Marcain

Composition

Bupivacaine hydrochloride +/- Adrenaline

Actions

Bupivacaine is classed as a membrane stabilising agent and is a local anaesthetic of the amide type. Like all amines it causes a reversible blockade of impulse propagation along nerve fibres by preventing the inward movement of sodium ions through the nerve membrane.

Pharmacokinetics

Bupivacaine is a long acting, amide type local anaesthetic chemically related to lignocaine and mepivacaine. It is approximately four times as potent as lignocaine.

References:

• MIMS