Carbocaine HCl

Carbocaine HCl is a numbing medicine that stops nerve signals that send pain to your brain.

Carbocaine HCl is used as a local anesthetic for an epidural or spinal block. It is also used as an anesthetic for dental procedures.

Carbocaine HCl may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Spinal numbing medications can have long-lasting or permanent effects on some body functions. Discuss your specific risk of nerve damage from Carbocaine HCl with your doctor.

You should not receive Carbocaine HCl if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any type of numbing medicine.

To make sure Carbocaine HCl is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver or kidney disease;
• low or high blood pressure;
• heart disease or a history of stroke;
• heart rhythm disorder;
• coronary artery disease;
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• a drug allergy; or
• if you regularly use any medicines (especially to treat migraine headache, depression, or mental illness).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Carbocaine HCl will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Carbocaine HCl.

It is not known whether mepivacaine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching, skin redness; nausea, vomiting, sweating, feeling hot; fast heartbeats; sneezing, difficult breathing; dizziness, fainting; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregiver right away if you have:

• numbness and tingling in your mouth or lips, metallic taste in your mouth;
• ringing in your ears, blurred vision, slurred speech, headache;
• confusion, depression, severe drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out;
• slow heart rate, weak pulse, weak or shallow breathing;
• fever, neck stiffness, increased sensitivity to light;
• tremors or muscle twitching, feeling anxious or restless;
• ongoing numbness, weakness, or loss of movement in your legs or feet;
• loss of bladder or bowel control;
• loss of feeling in your lower stomach, groin, or genitals;
• painful or difficult urination; or
• fast heart rate, rapid breathing, feeling hot.

Common side effects of Carbocaine HCl may include:

• anxiety, feeling restless or excited;
• depression, dizziness;
• tremors; or
• blurred vision, ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

For an epidural or spinal block, Carbocaine HCl is injected into an area of your lower back near your spine. You will receive this injection in a hospital or surgical setting.

For a dental procedure, Carbocaine HCl is injected into the gum area inside your mouth. You will receive this injection in a dentist's office or oral surgery setting.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs may be watched closely while you are receiving Carbocaine HCl.

Spinal numbing medications can have long-lasting or permanent effects on certain body processes. This includes sexual function, bowel or bladder control, and movement or feeling in your legs or feet. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk of nerve damage from Carbocaine HCl.

Since Carbocaine HCl is given as needed before surgery or another medical procedure, you will probably not have a dosing schedule.

Tell your caregivers immediately if you think you have received too much of Carbocaine HCl.

Signs of an overdose may include extreme drowsiness, seizures (convulsions), shallow breathing, or a slow heart rate.

After your dental procedure, do not eat, chew gum, or drink hot liquids until the feeling in your mouth has completely returned. Carbocaine HCl can cause numbness for a long time. Chewing while your mouth is numb could lead to a bite injury to your tongue, lips, or the inside of your cheek.

Other drugs may interact with mepivacaine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform each of your health care providers about all medicines you are currently using and any medicine you begin or discontinue.