Ropivacaine (Injection)

Introduction:

Ropivacaine (roe-PIV-a-kane)

Blocks pain by causing numbness or loss of feeling in an area of your body. Given before, during, or after surgery or childbirth, or at other times when pain needs to be controlled. This medicine is a local anesthetic.

Brand Name(s):

Naropin, Novaplus Naropin

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine may be given to you as one or more shots, or through a special tube left in place near your spinal cord (back bone).

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 fluvoxamine (Luvox®), or if you are using or have been given other local anesthetics (numbing medicines).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Before being given this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure your doctor knows if you have kidney problems or severe liver disease, or if you have heart problems.
• This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

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.
• Burning feeling, or severe pain in your back or legs.
• Feeling you cannot move your arms or legs.
• Unable to control your bladder or bowels.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Confusion and loss of coordination.
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate.
• Feeling unusually uptight or nervous.
• Feeling unusually weak in your muscles.
• Fever, or a feeling of getting the chills.
• Headache, lightheadedness, or fainting.
• Itchy skin (in children).
• Nausea, or vomiting.
• Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, legs, or other body parts.
• Unusually slow or fast heart beat.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: