For the production of local or regional anesthesia for surgery and obstetrics, and for post-operative pain management

Plasma levels may be reduced when used with enzyme-inducing drugs such as rifampicin. Substrates for or inhibitors of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 may affect the plasma levels of levobupivacaine.

Not to be used in IV regional anesth (Bier's block) and paracervical block in obstetrics. Do not use 0.75% solution for epidural block in obstetrics. Hypovolaemia, complete heart block.

CNS effects such as restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, respiratory depression and convulsions. Neuromuscular and skeletal weakness, blurred vision, pupillary constriction, tinnitus. Hypotension, bradycardia and CV collapse which may lead to cardiac arrest. Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions.

Epilepsy, respiratory impairment, impaired cardiac conduction, bradycardia, severe shock, acute porphyria, myasthenia gravis, renal or hepatic impairment. Pregnancy, lactation. Reduce dose in elderly or debilitated patients. Resuscitative equipment should be available. Do not use solutions containing adrenaline for anesth in appendages. Do not use solutions containing preservatives for caudal or epidural block.

To be used immediately after opening. After dilution in normal saline: Chemical and physical in-use stability at 20-22°C for 7 days.

Regional anesthesia

Levobupivacaine is a long acting local anaesthetic of the amide type. It is the S-enantiomer of bupivacaine. It blocks nerve conduction in sensory and motor nerves mainly by interacting with voltage sensitive sodium channels on the cell membrane. It also interferes with impulse transmission and conduction in other tissues. Levobupivacaine is given as the hydrochloride for infiltration anaesthesia and regional nerve blocks including epidural block. It is contraindicated in obstetric paracervical block and IV regional anaesthesia (Bier's block). The 0.75% solution is also contraindicated for epidural blocks in obstetrics.

Pregnancy Category B. Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a foetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the 1st trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters).