What it is used for
- Spinal anaesthesia for operations, including caesarean section
- Epidural anaesthesia for labour pain and pain after surgery
- Nerve blocks and injection into the surgical area to relieve pain
How it is used
- It is given only by injection by an anaesthetist or surgeon in hospital or clinic.
- The doctor decides the dose and where to inject, and the medical team monitors you during and after the injection.
- After the injection the numb area may stay without feeling for hours; protect it from injury and burns until feeling returns.
Possible side effects
- Low blood pressure and slow heart rate, especially with spinal anaesthesia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache after spinal anaesthesia
- Temporary difficulty passing urine
Who should not use it
- It is not used if you are allergic to local anaesthetics of the same type (such as lidocaine)
- It is not given into a vein or for intravenous regional anaesthesia (Bier's block)
- Spinal and epidural injections are not given with severe clotting problems or infection at the injection site
Before and while using it
- Tell the doctor if you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder.
- Tell the doctor if you have heart disease, liver disease or epilepsy.
- Tell the medical team straight away if you feel numbness around the mouth, ringing in the ears, dizziness or a metallic taste; these can be signs of toxicity.
- Tell the doctor if you develop severe back pain or leg weakness that does not improve after a spinal or epidural.
Medicine interactions
- Heart rhythm medicines (such as amiodarone) and other local anaesthetics increase the risk of toxicity.
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines increase the risk of bleeding around the spinal cord with spinal or epidural injections.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- It is widely used for labour and caesarean section at the anaesthetist's decision, and breastfeeding can usually continue afterwards.
How to store it
- Hospital or clinic staff store and prepare this medicine.
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.