Introduction
Bupivacaine Liposome (bue-PIV-a-kane LYE-poh-some)
Relieves pain after surgery. This medicine is a local anesthetic (numbing medicine).
Brand Name(s)
Exparel
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
You should not receive this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to bupivacaine, or if you are having an obstetrical paracervical block.
How to Use This Medicine
Injectable
- A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle injected into the surgical site.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using other numbing medicines, including other kinds of bupivacaine. Some other local anesthetics are lidocaine, Marcaine®, Sensorcaine®, and Xylocaine®. You should not be given any other kind of bupivacaine for at least 3 days.
Warnings While Using This Medicine
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease or liver disease.
- Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have blurred vision, numbness or tingling of your mouth and lips, depression, ringing in your ears, trouble talking, or tremors. Also tell them right away if you feel nervous, restless, lightheaded, or drowsy after you have been given this medicine.
- This medicine should cause numbness only in the body area where it is injected. You may have trouble moving those muscles. Local anesthesia is not meant to cause you to fall asleep or become unconscious.
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Anxiety, depression, restlessness, drowsiness, shaking, ringing in your ears, blurred vision
- Chest pain, feeling too warm
- Fast, pounding, slow, or uneven heartbeat
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
- Seizure
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
- Headache, back pain
- Mild sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
- Nausea, vomiting, constipation
- Trouble sleeping
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
Disclaimers
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