About bupivacaine
Long-acting amide local anesthetic
Used for
- Local or regional anesthesia for surgery
- Nerve blocks and epidural anesthesia
- Pain relief during labor
Usual adult dose
Varies by procedure and injection site; clinicians use the lowest effective dose, generally not exceeding 175 mg per dose without epinephrine.
Usual dose in children
Individualized by weight and procedure; commonly up to 2 mg/kg per dose, administered by an experienced clinician.
Common side effects
- Numbness or weakness around the injection area
- Low blood pressure or slow heartbeat
- Nausea or dizziness
- Rarely, seizures or dangerous heart rhythm problems
Important warnings
- For administration by trained clinicians only; accidental injection into a blood vessel can be life-threatening.
- Toxicity can cause seizures, breathing problems, or cardiac arrest.
- Use extra caution with heart, liver, or kidney problems.
- Not for intravenous regional anesthesia (Bier block).
Pregnancy
Used for obstetric anesthesia when appropriate; epidural use can cause low blood pressure and may affect the baby temporarily.
Breastfeeding
Small amounts are expected to reach breast milk; use during breastfeeding is generally considered compatible.
Interactions
- Other local anesthetics can increase toxicity.
- Antiarrhythmics may increase heart-related side effects.
- Drugs that affect liver enzymes may alter bupivacaine levels.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.