What is Carbocaine: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Carbocaine

• 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.

What to do if you miss a dose of Carbocaine

Carbocaine contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to mepivacaine or similar medicines.

Carbocaine warnings

• 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.

• Tremors, shaking, chills, or unexplained sweating.

• Uneven, pounding, or slow heartbeat.

Carbocaine interactions

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

• 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.

• Some medicines can affect how mepivacaine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:Acetaminophen, chloroquine, metoclopramide, primaquine, quinine, sulfasalazineCancer 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)