A fast acting orally disintegrating film (ODF) for administration of local anesthetic for alleviating physical and psychological discomfort in the oral cavity during procedures such as dental procedures or for relieving pain generally such as toothaches. The ODF comprises an active pharmaceutical ingredient such as lidocaine free base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a therapeutically acceptable amount such as about 24 mg, at least one primary hydrophilic film forming polymer, at least one secondary hydrophilic film forming polymer, wherein the ratio of the primary hydrophilic film forming polymer to the secondary hydrophilic film forming polymer is about 1:1 to about 20:1 by weight. The ODF further comprises a plasticizer wherein the ratio of the total weight of primary and secondary hydrophilic film forming polymer to the weight of the plasticizer is about 4:1 to about 4:3.
