Levobupivacaine injection

What is levobupivacaine injection?

LEVOBUPIVACAINE (Chirocaine®) is a drug that is injected before and during various surgical procedures or during labor and delivery. Levobupivacaine is an anesthestic, and causes loss of feeling in the skin and surrounding tissues. Generic levobupivacaine is not available.

NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the US.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of the following conditions:

• blood clotting problems

• heart or blood vessel disease

• infection

• liver disease

• myasthenia gravis

• an unusual or allergic reaction to levobupivacaine, other local anesthetics, medicines, foods, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Levobupivacaine is injected into a specific area to make it numb before a surgery or other procedure. Depending on the type of procedure it may be given into the area around your spine or into other areas so you will not feel pain during the procedure. Only a specially trained health-care professional will give levobupivacaine in a hospital or clinic.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

What drug(s) may interact with levobupivacaine?

• alcohol

• bosentan

• cimetidine

• ciprofloxacin

• clarithromycin

• blood thinners such as warfarin

• erythromycin

• medicines to treat hypertension

• medicines to treat fungal infections including fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole

• medicines to treat seizures such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin

• medicines to treat depression

• medicines used to help you sleep

• medicines used to treat heart disease or chest pain such as isosorbide and nitroglycerin

• medicines for myasthenia gravis

• mecamylamine

• rifabutin

• rifampin

• some medicines for pain

• some medicines used to treat HIV-infections such as indinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines that you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What do I need to watch for after I receive levobupivacaine?

Let your prescriber or health care professional know if the feeling of numbness does not wear off within a few hours of receiving the levobupivicaine dosage.

After an injection of levobupivacaine, the area will be numb for some time and you will not be aware of pain. Try to avoid injury to the area.

What side effects may I notice from receiving levobupivacaine?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• anxiety, restlessness

• blurred vision

• difficulty breathing

• dizziness, drowsiness

• fever

• irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

• nausea, vomiting

• seizures (convulsions)

• skin rash, hives

• swelling of the face or mouth

• tremors

If they are going to occur, these side effects may become apparent before you leave the hospital, clinic or dental office. Call your health care provider as soon as you can if you get any of the above reactions later.

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation

• headache

• itching

• numbness or tingling at the injection site or areas that were numb

• pain at the injection site

Where can I keep my medicine?

You will only receive levobupivacaine in a hospital or clinic setting prior to surgery or other procedures. You will not need to take this medicine at home.