adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Long-acting amide local anaesthetic combined with a vasoconstrictor.
Usual role
Local infiltration, peripheral nerve blocks and selected caudal or epidural blocks for anaesthesia or acute pain relief.
Administration
Given by a suitably trained clinician; it is not self-administered.
Afterwards
Protect the numb area and avoid driving or machinery until sensation and function have returned and any sedative effects have cleared.
What is adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for specialist production of prolonged local or regional anaesthesia.
Surgical anaesthesia in adults and children older than 12 years.
Acute pain management in adults and children older than 1 year.
Local infiltration, peripheral nerve blocks, and selected caudal or epidural blocks.
Pain relief during labour where clinically appropriate.
How does adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride work?
Bupivacaine temporarily prevents nerves from conducting pain signals, producing numbness in the treated region. Adrenaline constricts local blood vessels, slowing removal of bupivacaine from the site. This can prolong the block and reduce systemic absorption.
How to take adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride
This injection is administered by a clinician experienced in the intended local, nerve-block or epidural technique.
Tell the team about allergies, previous reactions to local anaesthetics, heart or thyroid disease, pregnancy and all medicines being used.
The clinician checks placement and monitors for neurological and cardiovascular toxicity.
Protect the numb area from heat, pressure and injury until normal sensation returns.
Do not drive or operate machinery until function has fully returned and the treating team says it is safe.
adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Low blood pressure or nausea.
- Dizziness or tingling sensations.
- Slow heart rate or raised blood pressure.
- Vomiting or difficulty passing urine.
- Temporary soreness, bruising or altered sensation around an injection site.
Get urgent medical advice
- Local-anaesthetic toxicity that may progress to seizures or unconsciousness.
- Severe low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, cardiac arrest or respiratory depression.
- Severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis or bronchospasm.
- Persistent weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or other significant neurological change after a regional or epidural block.
adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride in pregnancy
This combination has a licensed role in pain relief during labour, but suitability depends on the technique and clinical circumstances. The product information advises avoiding bupivacaine in early pregnancy unless expected benefit outweighs risk and highlights additional caution later in pregnancy. Assessment by the obstetric and anaesthetic team is important.
adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride while breastfeeding
Bupivacaine passes into breast milk in small quantities, and the product information does not expect an effect on the child at therapeutic exposure. Tell the anaesthetic team that you are breastfeeding, particularly if the baby is premature or unwell or other medicines will also be used.
adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride interactions
The clinical team should review all medicines because the local anaesthetic and adrenaline components can have additive cardiovascular, neurological or metabolic effects.
Other local anaesthetics, lidocaine or mexiletine
Systemic local-anaesthetic toxicity may be additive.
Amiodarone and other class III antiarrhythmics
Cardiac effects may be additive; close surveillance and ECG monitoring may be needed.
Non-selective beta blockers such as propranolol
Adrenaline may cause severe hypertension with reflex slowing of the heart rate.
Common questions about adrenaline acid tartrate + bupivacaine hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is it used for?
It is used by specialist clinicians to produce local or regional anaesthesia for surgery and to manage acute pain through infiltration, nerve-block or selected epidural techniques.
Why is adrenaline included?
Adrenaline narrows local blood vessels, helping bupivacaine remain near the injection site for longer and reducing its rate of systemic absorption.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.