What is Ropivacaine?
Ropivacaine can be used to provide local (only in one area) sedation during a spinal block. This is also known as an epidural. This medication is used as anesthesia for an operation, a C-section, or to relieve labor pains. Ropivacaine can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Ropivacaine
When suffering an allergic reaction, seek medical assistance immediately - symptoms include difficulty breathing, hives and face/lip/throat swelling.
If you:
- A severe blood disorder called methemoglobinemia is characterized by pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, headaches and rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath, or feeling tired or lightheaded.
- Feeling anxious, restless, or confused
- Speech or vision problems;
- Ringing in your ears; metallic taste; tingling or numbness around the mouth;
- Seizures;
- Weak or shallow breathing
- Slow heart rate, weak pulse
- Rapid heart rate.
Side effects that are common include:
- Feeling like you might pass out;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Slow heart rate
- Headache;
- Backache
- Fever;
- Pain;
- Itching;
- Numbness, tingling, burning pain,
- Pale skin, fatigue, feeling lightheaded or short-breathy, cold hands and/or feet
There may be other side effects. Call your physician if experiencing side effects; for reporting purposes call the FDA directly at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
If you experience any serious side effects, such as confusion, difficulty with speech or vision, ringing or tingling in the ears or around the mouth, gasping or feeling unusually warm, paler, gray or blue-colored skin, headaches, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or the feeling that you may pass out, tell your caregivers immediately.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to ropivacaine or any other type of numbing medication, then it is best to avoid using this medicine.
You may experience a severe blood condition called methemoglobinemia when using ropivacaine. You may have a higher risk if you suffer from glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) or heart or lung issues. You may be at greater risk if you are using certain drugs or if your child has been using them for less than six months.
Inform your physician of any of the following issues:
- A severe blood disorder called methemoglobinemia
- Liver or kidney disease
- Heart disease.
The safety of ropivacaine for an unborn child is unknown. IInform your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant. Ask your doctor if you can safely breastfeed if you are using ropivacaine.
How to take Ropivacaine?
Ropivacaine can be injected through a needle into a region of the middle or lower spine. This injection will be given in a surgical or hospital setting. While you receive ropivacaine, your breathing, blood pressure, and oxygen levels will be closely monitored. Some numbing drugs can have delayed or long-lasting effects. Speak to your doctor about any concerns you may have. If you experience stiffness or joint pain in any part of your body, even months after surgery, call your doctor.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You are unlikely to have a schedule for ropivacaine since it is administered as needed prior to a surgical procedure or other medical procedure.
What happens if I overdose?
If you feel you've received too much ropivacaine, tell your caregivers immediately.
What should be avoided?
Ropivacaine may cause numbness in a large area of the body. Avoid injury until the feeling returns completely.
Interaction with other drug
Tell your doctor about your other medications, including:
- Other anesthetics—articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, and prilocaine;
- Heart medications: nitric dioxide; nitroglycerin; nitroprusside.
- Cancer medications: cyclophosphamide, flutamide, hydroxyurea, ifosfamide, and rasburicase;
- antibiotics—dapsone, nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides;
- Drugs for malaria—chloroquine, primaquine;
- Drugs for epilepsy: phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproate,
- Other drugs—acetaminophen, metoclopramide, quinine, and sulfasalazine.
This list is incomplete, and other drugs can also affect ropivacaine. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all drug interactions.
