Ultracaine (Bupivacaine)

Adults and children above 12 years of age

The following table is a guide to dosage for the more commonly used techniques in the average adult. The figures reflect the expected average dose range needed. Standard textbooks should be consulted for factors affecting specific block techniques and for individual patient requirements.

N.B. When prolonged blocks are used, either by continuous infusion or by repeated bolus administration, the risks of reaching a toxic plasma concentration or inducing a local neural injury must be considered.

The clinician's experience and knowledge of the patient's physical status is important in calculating the required dose. The lowest dose required for adequate anaesthesia should be used. Individual variations in onset and duration occur.

Table 1 Dosage recommendations for adults

1) Dose includes test dose

2) The dose for a major nerve block must be adjusted according to site of administration and patient status.

3) In total ≤400 mg/24 h.

4) This solution is often used for epidural administration in combination with a suitable opioid for pain management.).

7) Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) without adrenaline.

In general, surgical anaesthesia (e.g. epidural administration) requires the use of higher concentrations and doses. When a less intense block is required (e.g. in the relief of labour pain), the use of a lower concentration is indicated. The volume of drug used will affect the extent of spread of anaesthesia.

In order to avoid intravascular injection, aspiration should be repeated prior to and during administration of the main dose, which should be injected slowly or in incremental doses, at a rate of 25-50 mg/min, while closely observing the patient's vital functions and maintaining verbal contact. An inadvertent intravascular injection may be recognised by a temporary increase in heart rate and an accidental intrathecal injection by signs of a spinal block. If toxic symptoms occur, the injection should be stopped immediately.

Experience to date indicates that 400 mg administered over 24 hours is well tolerated in the average adult.

Paediatric patients 1 to 12 years of age

Paediatric regional anaesthetic procedures should be performed by qualified clinicians who are familiar with this population and the technique.

The doses in the table should be regarded as guidelines for use in paediatrics. Individual variations occur. In children with a high body weight a gradual reduction of the dosage is often necessary and should be based on the ideal body weight. Standard textbooks should be consulted for factors affecting specific block techniques and for individual patient requirements.

The lowest dose required for adequate analgesia should be used.

Table 2 Dosage recommendations for children 1 to 12 years of age

a) Thoracic epidural blocks need to be given by incremental dosage until the desired level of anaesthesia is achieved.

b) The onset and duration of peripheral nerve blocks depend on the type of block and the dose administered

In children the dosage should be calculated on a weight basis up to 2 mg/kg.

In order to avoid intravascular injection, aspiration should be repeated prior to and during administration of the main dose. This should be injected slowly in incremental doses, particularly in the lumbar and thoracic epidural routes, constantly and closely observing the patient's vital functions.

Peritonsillar infiltration has been performed in children above 2 years of age with Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) 2.5 mg/ml at a dose of 7.5- 12.5 mg per tonsil.

Ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric blocks have been performed in children aged 1 year or older with Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) 2.5mg/ml at a dose of 0.1-0.5 ml/kg equivalent to 0.25-1.25 mg/kg. Children aged 5 years or older have received Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) 5mg/ml at a dose of 1.25-2 mg/kg.

For penile blocks Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) 5mg/ml has been used at total doses of 0.2-0.5 ml/kg equivalent to 1-2.5mg/kg.

The safety and efficacy of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) solution for injection with and without adrenaline in children < 1 year of age have not been established. Only limited data are available.

Safety and efficacy of intermittent epidural bolus injection or continuous infusion have not been established. Only limited data is available.

Solutions of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) hydrochloride are contra-indicated for intravenous regional anaesthesia (Bier's-block)

Epidural anaesthesia, regardless of the local anaesthetic used, has its own contra-indications which include:

Active disease of the central nervous system such as meningitis, poliomyelitis, intracranial haemorrhage, sub-acute combined degeneration of the cord due to pernicious anaemia and cerebral and spinal tumours; tuberculosis of the spine; pyogenic infection of the skin at or adjacent to the site of lumbar puncture; cardiogenic or hypovolaemic shock; coagulation disorders or ongoing anticoagulation treatment.

There have been reports of cardiac arrest during the use of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) for epidural anaesthesia or peripheral nerve blockade where resuscitative efforts have been difficult, and were required to be prolonged before the patient responded. However, in some instances resuscitation has proven impossible despite apparently adequate preparation and appropriate management.

Like all local anaesthetic drugs, Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) may cause acute toxicity effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems if utilised for local anaesthetic procedures resulting in high blood concentrations of the drug. This is especially the case after unintentional intravascular administration or injection into highly vascular areas. Ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, sudden cardiovascular collapse and death have been reported in connection with high systemic concentrations of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine).

Adequate resuscitation equipment should be available whenever local or general anaesthesia is administered. The clinician responsible should take the necessary precautions to avoid intravascular injection (see 4.2).

Before any nerve block is attempted, intravenous access for resuscitation purposes should be established. Clinicians should have received adequate and appropriate training in the procedure to be performed and should be familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of side effects, systemic toxicity or other complications (see 4.9 & 4.8).

Major peripheral nerve blocks may require the administration of a large volume of local anaesthetic in areas of high vascularity, often close to large vessels where there is an increased risk of intravascular injection and/or systemic absorption. This may lead to high plasma concentrations.

Overdosage or accidental intravenous injection may give rise to toxic reactions.

Injection of repeated doses of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) hydrochloride may cause significant increases in blood levels with each repeated dose due to slow accumulation of the drug. Tolerance varies with the status of the patient.

Although regional anaesthesia is frequently the optimal anaesthetic technique, some patients require special attention in order to reduce the risk of dangerous side effects:

-The elderly and patients in poor general condition should be given reduced doses commensurate with their physical status.

- Patients with partial or complete heart block - due to the fact that local anaesthetics may depress myocardial conduction

- Patients with advanced liver disease or severe renal dysfunction

- Patients in the late stages of pregnancy

- Patients treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs class III (e.g. amiodarone) should be under close surveillance and ECG monitoring, since cardiac effects may be additive.

Patients allergic to ester-type local anaesthetic drugs (procaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, etc.) have not shown cross-sensitivity to agents of the amide type such as Ultracaine (Bupivacaine).

Certain local anaesthetic procedures may be associated with serious adverse reactions, regardless of the local anaesthetic drug used.

- Local anaesthetics should be used with caution for epidural anaesthesia in patients with impaired cardiovascular function since they may be less able to compensate for functional changes associated with the prolongation of A-V conduction produced by these drugs.

- The physiological effects generated by a central neural blockade are more pronounced in the presence of hypotension. Patients with hypovolaemia due to any cause can develop sudden and severe hypotension during epidural anaesthesia. Epidural anaesthesia should therefore be avoided or used with caution in patients with untreated hypovolaemia or significantly impaired venous return.

- Retrobulbar injections may very rarely reach the cranial subarachnoid space causing temporary blindness, cardiovascular collapse, apnoea, convulsions etc.

- Retro- and peribulbar injections of local anaesthetics carry a low risk of persistent ocular muscle dysfunction. The primary causes include trauma and/or local toxic effects on muscles and/or nerves. The severity of such tissue reactions is related to the degree of trauma, the concentration of the local anaesthetic and the duration of exposure of the tissue to the local anaesthetic. For this reason, as with all local anaesthetics, the lowest effective concentration and dose of local anaesthetic should be used.

- Vasoconstrictors may aggravate tissue reactions and should be used only when indicated.

- Small doses of local anaesthetics injected into the head and neck, including retrobulbar, dental and stellate ganglion blocks, may produce systemic toxicity due to inadvertent intra-arterial injection.

- Paracervical block may have a greater adverse effect on the foetus than other nerve blocks used in obstetrics. Due to the systemic toxicity of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) special care should be taken when using Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) for paracervical block.

- There have been post-marketing reports of chondrolysis in patients receiving post-operative intra-articular continuous infusion of local anaesthetics. The majority of reported cases of chondrolysis have involved the shoulder joint. Due to multiple contributing factors and inconsistency in the scientific literature regarding mechanism of action, causality has not been established. Intra-articular continuous infusion is not an approved indication for Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) solution for injection.

Epidural anaesthesia with any local anaesthetic can cause hypotension and bradycardia which should be anticipated and appropriate precautions taken. These may include pre-loading the circulation with crystalloid or colloid solution. If hypotension develops it should be treated with a vasopressor such as ephedrine 10-15mg intravenously. Severe hypotension may result from hypovolaemia due to haemorrhage or dehydration, or aorto-caval occlusion in patients with massive ascites, large abdominal tumours or late pregnancy. Marked hypotension should be avoided in patients with cardiac decompensation.

Patients with hypovolaemia due to any cause can develop sudden and severe hypotension during epidural anaesthesia.

Epidural anaesthesia can cause intercostal paralysis and patients with pleural effusions may suffer respiratory embarrassment. Septicaemia can increase the risk of intraspinal abscess formation in the postoperative period.

When Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) is administered as intra-articular injection, caution is advised when recent major intra-articular trauma is suspected or extensive raw surfaces within the joint have been created by the surgical procedure, as that may accelerate absorption and result in higher plasma concentrations.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) hydrochloride in children < 1 year of age have not been established. Only limited data are available.

The use of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) for intra-articular block in children 1 to 12 years of age has not been documented.

The use of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) for major nerve block in children 1 to 12 years of age has not been documented.

For Epidural anaesthesia children should be given incremental doses commensurate with their age and weight as especially epidural anaesthesia at a thoracic level may result in severe hypotension and respiratory impairment.

Each 2 ml, 4 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml & 20 ml of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) 0.5% w/v solution for injection contains approximately 0.28 mmol, 0.56 mmol, 0.70 mmol, 1.40 mmol & 2.80 mmol (6.4mg, 12.9 mg, 16.1 mg, 32.3 mg & 64.6 mg) sodium respectively. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.

Besides the direct anaesthetic effect, local anaesthetics may have a very mild effect on mental function and co-ordination even in the absence of overt CNS toxicity, and may temporarily impair locomotion and alertness.

Accidental sub-arachnoid injection can lead to very high spinal anaesthesia possibly with apnoea and severe hypotension.

The adverse reaction profile for Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) solution for injection is similar to those for other long acting local anaesthetics. Adverse reactions caused by the drug per se are difficult to distinguish from the physiological effects of the nerve block (e.g. decrease in blood pressure, bradycardia), events caused directly (e.g. nerve trauma) or indirectly (e.g. epidural abscess) by needle puncture.

Neurological damage is a rare but well recognised consequence of regional and particularly epidural and spinal anaesthesia. It may be due to several causes, e.g. direct injury to the spinal cord or spinal nerves, anterior spinal artery syndrome, injection of an irritant substance, or an injection of a non-sterile solution. These may result in localised areas of paraesthesia or anaesthesia, motor weakness, loss of sphincter control and paraplegia. Occasionally these are permanent.

The adverse reactions considered at least possibly related to treatment with Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) solution for injection from clinical trials with related products and post-marketing experience are listed below by body system organ class and absolute frequency. Frequencies are defined as very common (1/10), common (1/100, < 1/10), uncommon (1/1,000, < 1/100), rare (1/10,000, < 1/1,000) including isolated reports, or not known (identified through post-marketing safety surveillance and the frequency cannot be estimated from the available data).

Table 3

Table of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR)

Hepatic dysfunction, with reversible increases of SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphates and bilirubin, has been observed following repeated injections or long-term infusions of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine). If signs of hepatic dysfunction are observed during treatment with Ultracaine (Bupivacaine), the drug should be discontinued.

4.8.1 Acute systemic toxicity

Systemic toxic reactions primarily involve the central nervous system (CNS) and the cardiovascular system. Such reactions are caused by high blood concentrations of a local anaesthetic, which may appear due to (accidental) intravascular injection, overdose or exceptionally rapid absorption from highly vascularised areas. CNS reactions are similar for all amide local anaesthetics, while cardiac reactions are more dependent on the drug, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Central nervous system toxicity is a graded response with symptoms and signs of escalating severity. The first symptoms are usually light-headedness, circumoral paraesthesia, numbness of the tongue, hyperacusis, tinnitus and visual disturbances. Dysarthria, muscular twitching or tremors are more serious and precede the onset of generalised convulsions. These signs must not be mistaken for neurotic behaviour. Unconsciousness and grand mal convulsions may follow, which may last from a few seconds to several minutes. Hypoxia and hypercarbia occur rapidly following convulsions due to the increased muscular activity, together with the interference with respiration and possible loss of functional airways. In severe cases apnoea may occur. Acidosis, hyperkalaemia and hypoxia increase and extend the toxic effects of local anaesthetics.

Recovery is due to redistribution of the local anaesthetic drug from the central nervous system and subsequent metabolism and excretion. Recovery may be rapid unless large amounts of the drug have been injected.

Cardiovascular system toxicity may be seen in severe cases and is generally preceded by signs of toxicity in the central nervous system. In patients under heavy sedation or receiving a general anaesthetic, prodromal CNS symptoms may be absent. Hypotension, bradycardia, arrhythmia and even cardiac arrest may occur as a result of high systemic concentrations of local anaesthetics, but in rare cases cardiac arrest has occurred without prodromal CNS effects.

Paediatric population

Adverse drug reactions in children are similar to those in adults, however in children, early signs of local anaesthetic toxicity may be difficult to detect in cases where the block is given during general anaesthesia.

4.8.2 Treatment of Acute Toxicity

If signs of acute systemic toxicity appear, injection of the local anaesthetic should be immediately stopped.

Treatment of a patient with systemic toxicity consists of arresting convulsions and ensuring adequate ventilation with oxygen, if necessary by assisted or controlled ventilation (respiration).

Once convulsions have been controlled and adequate ventilation of the lungs ensured, no other treatment is generally required

If cardiovascular depression occurs (hypotension, bradycardia) appropriate treatment with intravenous fluids, vasopressor, inotropic agents and/or lipid emulsion should be considered. Children should be given doses commensurate with age andweight.

If circulatory arrest should occur, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be instituted. Optimal oxygenation and ventilation and circulatory support as well as treatment of acidosis are of vital importance.

Cardiac arrest due to Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) can be resistant to electrical defibrillation and resuscitation must be continued energetically for a prolonged period.

High or total spinal blockade causing respiratory paralysis and hypotension during epidural anaesthesia should be treated by ensuring and maintaining a patent airway and giving oxygen by assisted or controlled ventilation.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Accidental intravascular injections of local anaesthetics may cause immediate (within seconds to a few minutes) systemic toxic reactions. In the event of overdose, systemic toxicity appears later (15-60 minutes after injection) due to the slower increase in local anaesthetic blood concentration.

Phamacotherapeutic group (ATC code): N01B B51

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) hydrochloride is a long acting local anaesthetic of the amide type with both anaesthetic and analgesic effects. At high doses it produces surgical anaesthesia, while at lower doses it produces sensory block (analgesia) with less pronounced motor block.

Onset and duration of the local anaesthetic effect of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) depends on the dose and site of administration.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine), like other local anaesthetics, causes a reversible blockade of impulse propagation along nerve fibres by preventing the inward movement of sodium ions through the cell membrane of the nerve fibres. The sodium channels of the nerve membrane are considered a receptor for local anaesthetic molecules.

Local anaesthetics may have similar effects on other excitable membranes e.g. in the brain and myocardium. If excessive amounts of drug reach the systemic circulation, symptoms and signs of toxicity may appear, emanating from the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Central nervous system toxicity usually precedes the cardiovascular effects as central nervous system toxicity occurs at lower plasma concentrations. Direct effects of local anaesthetics on the heart include slow conduction, negative inotropism and eventually cardiac arrest.

Indirect cardiovascular effects (hypotension, bradycardia) may occur after epidural administration depending on the extent of the concomitant sympathetic block.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) has a pKa of 8.2 and a partition coefficient of 346 (25°C n-octanol/ phosphate buffer pH 7.4). The metabolites have a pharmacological activity that is less than that of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine).

The plasma concentration of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) depends upon the dose, the route of administration and the vascularity of the injection site.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) shows complete and biphasic absorption from the epidural space with half-lives in the order of 7 min and 6 h respectively. The slow absorption is rate-limiting in the elimination of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine), which explains why the apparent half-life after epidural administration is longer than that after intravenous administration.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) has a total plasma clearance of 0.58 l/min, a volume of distribution at steady state of 73 l, a terminal half-life of 2.7 h and an intermediate hepatic extraction ratio of 0.38 after IV administration. It is mainly bound to alpha-l-acid glycoprotein with plasma binding of 96%. Clearance of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) is almost entirely due to liver metabolism and more sensitive to changes in intrinsic hepatic enzyme function that to liver perfusion.

In children the pharmacokinetics are similar to that in adults.

An increase in total plasma concentration has been observed during continuous epidural infusion. This is related to a postoperative increase in alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. The unbound, i.e. pharmacologically active, concentration is similar before and after surgery.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) readily crosses the placenta and equilibrium with regard to the unbound concentration is rapidly reached. The degree of plasma protein binding in the foetus is less than in the mother, which results in lower total plasma concentrations in the foetus.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) is extensively metabolised in the liver, predominately by aromatic hydroxylation to 4-hydroxy-Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) and N-dealkylation to PPX, both mediated by cytochrome P4503A4. About 1% of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) is excreted in the urine as unchanged drug in 24 h and approximately 5% as PPX. The plasma concentrations of PPX and 4-hydroxy-Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) during and after continuous administration of Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) are low as compared to the parent drug.

Ultracaine (Bupivacaine) hydrochloride is a well established active ingredient.

In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

For single use only.

Use immediately after opening.

Discard any unused solution