Mepivacaine (me-PIV-a-kane)

Numbs an area of your body and prevents pain before or during surgery or other medical procedures. This medicine is a local anesthetic.

Brand Name(s):

Polocaine, Polocaine Dental, Polocaine-MPF

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. It is given through a needle injected into the surgical site or through a catheter placed into your lower back for an epidural or a spinal block. You may also receive the injection into your rib cage, chest, or other body areas.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how mepivacaine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetaminophen, chloroquine, metoclopramide, primaquine, quinine, sulfasalazine
  • Cancer medicine (including cyclophosphamide, flutamide, hydroxyurea, ifosfamide, rasburicase)
  • Medicine to treat an infection (including dapsone, nitrofurantoin, para-aminosalicylic acid, sulfonamide)
  • Medicine to treat seizures (including phenobarbital, phenytoin, sodium valproate)
  • Nitrate or nitrite medicine (including nitric oxide, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, nitrous oxide)

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, lung or breathing problems, a blood disorder, G6PD, diabetes, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke or other blood flow problems to the brain.
• This medicine may cause methemoglobinemia (blood disorder).
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• You may experience temporary loss of sensation and movement, usually in the lower half of your body, if you receive this medicine into your lower back (epidural). It may be easier to hurt yourself without knowing it while your treated body area is still numb. Be careful to avoid injury until the feeling is back in the area and you are no longer numb.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

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
• Dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, fainting
• Lightheadedness, nervousness, restlessness, blurred or double vision, twitching
• Pale, gray, or blue lips, nails, or skin, dark urine, headache, unusual tiredness or weakness
• Ringing in the ears, seizures
• Tremors, shaking, chills, unexplained sweating
• Uneven, fast, pounding, or slow heartbeat

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

• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

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