What is Ropivacaine?

Ropivacaine is an anesthetic (numbing medicine) that blocks the nerve impulses that send pain signals to your brain.

Ropivacaine is used as a local (in only one area) anesthesia for a spinal block, also called an epidural. The medication is used to provide anesthesia during a surgery or C-section, or to ease labor pains.

Ropivacaine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Ropivacaine?

You should not receive ropivacaine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any type of numbing medicine.

Before receiving ropivacaine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have liver disease, heart disease, or kidney disease.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as: confusion, feeling like you might pass out, problems with speech or vision, ringing in your ears, numbness or tingling around your mouth, seizure, weak or shallow breathing, fast or slow heart rate, weak pulse, gasping, or feeling unusually hot.

This medication can cause numbness over a large portion of your body. Take care to avoid injury before the feeling has returned completely.

Spinal numbing medications can have long-lasting or permanent effects on certain body processes such as sexual function, bowel or bladder control, and movement or feeling in your legs or feet. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk of nerve damage from ropivacaine.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Ropivacaine?

You should not receive ropivacaine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any type of numbing medicine.

Before receiving ropivacaine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• liver disease
• heart disease; or
• kidney disease

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive ropivacaine.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby.

It is not known whether ropivacaine can pass into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Ropivacaine Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Ropivacaine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives or red skin rash; dizziness; sneezing; difficulty breathing; nausea or vomiting; sweating; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• feeling anxious, restless, confused, or like you might pass out
• problems with speech or vision
• ringing in the ears, metallic taste, vision problems, numbness or tingling around your mouth, or tremors
• seizure (convulsions)
• weak or shallow breathing
• slow heart rate, weak pulse; or
• fast heart rate, gasping, feeling unusually hot

Less serious side effects include:

• nausea, vomiting
• headache, back pain
• fever
• itching
• numbness or tingly feeling; or
• problems with urination or sexual function

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Ropivacaine Interactions

What other drugs affect Ropivacaine?

Many drugs can interact with ropivacaine. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• birth control pills or other hormones
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
• interferon (Actimmune, Roferon, Intron, Rebetron, and others)
• ondansetron (Zofran)
• propranolol (Inderal)
• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theo-Dur)
• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• a heart rhythm medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), bretylium (Bretylan, Tosylate), dofetilide (Tikosyn), ibutilide (Corvert), mexiletine (Mexitil), or sotalol (Betapace)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil); or
• medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zydis)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with ropivacaine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Ropivacaine?

This medication can cause numbness over a large portion of your body. Take care to avoid injury before the feeling has returned completely.

How should I take Ropivacaine?

Ropivacaine is given as an injection through a needle placed into an area of your middle or lower back near your spine. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving ropivacaine.

Spinal numbing medications can have long-lasting or permanent effects on certain body processes such as sexual function, bowel or bladder control, and movement or feeling in your legs or feet. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk of nerve damage from ropivacaine.

What happens if I overdose on Ropivacaine?

Tell your caregivers right away if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, ringing in your ears, blurred vision, fainting, seizure (convulsions), weak or shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

What happens if I miss a dose of Ropivacaine?

Since ropivacaine is given as needed before a surgery or other medical procedure, you are not likely to be on a dosing schedule.

Sourced from everydayhealth.com