This leaflet answers some common questions about Bupivacaine Injection.

It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Bupivacaine Injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.

This medicine is likely to be used while you are at the clinic or in hospital. If possible, please read this leaflet carefully before this medicine is given to you. In some cases this leaflet may be given to you after the medicine has been used.

You may need to read it again.

Bupivacaine is used to prevent or relieve pain, but it will not put you to sleep. Bupivacaine Injection is used during or after surgery to relieve pain. It can also be used to make childbirth less painful.

Bupivacaine Injection belongs to a group of medicines known as local anaesthetics. It is injected into the body where it will either totally stop pain or will cause partial loss of feeling (numbness), depending on the amount used.

Your doctor will have explained why you are being treated with Bupivacaine and what dose you will be given.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

This product is available only on a doctor's prescription.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

If you are not sure whether any of these apply to you, check with your doctor.

It is not known if it is safe for you to receive bupivacaine while you are pregnant. It may affect your baby if you receive it early in pregnancy or in the last weeks before your baby is due. However, bupivacaine may be used during childbirth. Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of being given it during pregnancy,

Your baby can absorb bupivacaine in very small amounts from breast milk if you are breastfeeding. Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of being given it whilst you are breastfeeding.

It may not be safe for you to be given Bupivacaine Injection if you have any of these conditions.

Some medicines and bupivacaine may interfere with each other. These include:

These medicines may affect the way bupivacaine works or be affected by bupivacaine. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take a different medicine.

Your doctor will advise you about continuing to take other medicines while you are receiving Bupivacaine Injection.

It is given by injection into the skin, near a single nerve, or into an area which contains a large number of nerves (e.g. if you are given an epidural injection which is an injection around the spinal cord). This causes an area of numbness at the site of injection or in an area that may seem unrelated to the site of injection. The last will be the case if you are given an epidural injection) and will result in a feeling of numbness in your lower body.

If you are receiving an epidural infusion it will be injected by your doctor into the epidural space, near your spinal cord, through a space between vertebrae in your lower back. A thin tube will be inserted so a continuous dose can be given over a period of time.

Your doctor will decide what dose, how often and how long you will receive it. This depends on the type of pain relief required, your condition and other factors, such as your weight, age, how well your liver and kidneys are working, and whether or not other medicines are being given at the same time.

This rarely happens as Bupivacaine Injection is administered under the care of an experienced anaesthetist. Your condition will be carefully monitored following administration of bupivacaine.

However, if you are given too much bupivacaine, you may experience some of the effects listed under "Side Effects" below. Some side effects such as unconsciousness, low blood pressure and collapse will be monitored and detected by your doctor or nurse if it occurs.

Whenever you are given Bupivacaine Injection, equipment is available to treat you if you experience severe side effects.

Like other medicines, bupivacaine can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor or temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.

These are usually mild side effects and should only last a short time.

After an epidural injection of bupivacaine you may develop a headache or backache which is not always related to the medicine used. This may last for some months after the injection was given, although this is rare.

If Bupivacaine Injection is given wrongly, or you are very sensitive to it, it may cause the above side effects.

Other side effects not listed above, may occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Some side effects may only be detected by your doctor.

You may be drowsy and feel light headed. Your reflexes may be made slower and you may feel nauseous.

It may cause your blood pressure to drop and cause you to feel dizzy and faint.

Any Bupivacaine Injection which is not used will be disposed of in a safe manner by your doctor or pharmacist.

Bupivacaine Injection is for single use only.

Bupivacaine Injection is a clear, colourless solution in either a 20mL glass theatre vial or a plastic 10mL Steriamp® or Steriluer® ampoule.

Bupivacaine Injection contains Bupivacaine Hydrochloride BP (0.25% or 0.5%),

It also contains:

This medicine does not contain a preservative.