Are you scheduled to have surgery? Or is someone in your family getting ready for surgery? The main reason for fear of surgery is the pain that comes after the surgery. But don't worry, today's medical science is very advanced. There are very good and safe ways to control this pain. Today we are talking about a special medicine that is used to control such pain.
What exactly is Bupivacaine?
Simply put, Bupivacaine is a medication that is given to stop or reduce pain after a surgery or medical procedure. It belongs to a class of drugs called ' local anesthetics'.
Imagine that there are small cables of nerves in your body that carry 'pain signals' from the point where you feel pain to the brain. What this medicine does is it goes only to the relevant area, that is, to the area where the surgery was performed, and temporarily 'numbs' the nerves that carry those pain signals. It's like 'switching off' an electrical wire for a while. Then the pain doesn't go to the brain, so you don't feel the pain. This doesn't numb the whole body, as if it were asleep, it just numbs the area where the pain is.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Although Bupivacaine is a very safe medication, it is important that your doctor is fully aware of your medical condition. This is because special care must be taken when giving this medication to people with certain medical conditions. Therefore, if you have any of the medical conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor.
| Illness or condition | Why is it important to inform the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Enzyme deficiencies such as G6PD deficiency | This is a hereditary blood condition that can cause adverse reactions to certain medications. |
| Heart disease | Because it can affect heart function. |
| Kidney disease | Because the kidneys are involved in the process of removing medication from the body. |
| Liver disease | Because the liver is important for breaking down medications in the body. |
| Low blood pressure | This medicine may cause your blood pressure to drop even further. |
| Lung disease | Because it can affect the functioning of the respiratory system. |
| Allergies to Bupivacaine or other medicines, foods, or dyes | This is very important to prevent an allergic reaction. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | To consider whether there may be an effect on the baby in the womb. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | To consider whether the medicine passes to the baby through breast milk. |
How can I give you this medicine?
This is not a medicine you can take home. It is given as an injection, just where the pain is. It is given in a hospital or clinic by your doctor or a trained medical team. So you have nothing to worry about.
The most important thing is that this medicine is for you only. Never share this medicine with anyone else, even if they have symptoms similar to yours.
What to do if you overdose?
Since this is given in a hospital, the risk of overdose is very low. However, if you think you may have had an overdose, do not panic and inform the medical team immediately. Alternatively, you should immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other drugs that may interact with Bupivacaine
Some medications you are taking may interact with Bupivacaine. This means that when the two medications are taken together, the effectiveness of one may be changed or the side effects may increase.
Therefore, give your doctor a complete list of all the medications you take, whether prescribed by a doctor, over-the-counter, vitamins, traditional medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, or anything else you use . Also tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Some medications that may interact with Bupivacaine include:
- Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
- Some types of antibiotics
- Some medications used to treat conditions such as seizures (e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin)
- Medicines such as Nitroglycerin for heart disease
- Other types of local anesthetics like Lidocaine, Tetracaine
- Many other medicines...
This list is not complete. That's why it's important to tell your doctor about everything you take.
Things to be careful about after taking the medicine
Your medical team will be monitoring your condition closely while you receive this medication, but there is something important you should be aware of.
That is, you do not feel pain in that area because the area where the medicine was given is numb. Imagine that you were given this medicine for a knee surgery. At that time, your knee was numb so you did not feel pain. Therefore, if that area is hit, injured, or feels hot, you do not understand. Therefore, you need to be very careful until the numbness is completely gone. Make sure that there is no danger to that area.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medicine, Bupivacaine can cause side effects. However, not everyone gets them. Some are serious, while others are mild. The most important thing is to be aware of these symptoms and tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice anything serious.
| Side effects that should be reported to your medical team immediately | |
|---|---|
| Side effect | Description |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing. |
| Changes in heart rate | Feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly, dizziness, chest pain, difficulty breathing. |
| Seizures | Body tremors, loss of consciousness. |
| Changes in blood pressure | High or low blood pressure (dizziness, blurred vision, feeling faint). |
| Symptoms of Methemoglobinemia | This is a rare condition in which the blood's ability to carry oxygen is impaired. Symptoms include headache, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and blue skin or lips. |
| Decreased activity of the central nervous system (CNS depression) | Slow or shallow breathing, excessive sleepiness, difficulty staying alert, confusion. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the medical team if they persist | |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
| Vomiting | - |
| Drowsiness | - |
| Anxiety or nervousness | - |
This list may not include all side effects. If you have anything unusual that you think may be due to this medicine, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Bupivacaine is a local anesthetic used to control pain after surgery.
- This medicine is given by a medical team in a hospital, so you have nothing to worry about.
- It is extremely important to tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have and all medications you are taking.
- Since the area will be numb after the medication is given, be very careful not to cause any harm to the area until the numbness wears off.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or facial swelling, notify the medical team immediately .
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