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Bupivacaine Hydrochloride And Epinephrine (Bupivacaine Hydrochloride)
Bupivacaine blocks nerve impulses by increasing the threshold for electrical excitation, slowing nerve impulse propagation, and reducing the rate of rise of the action potential.
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, manufactured by Pfizer, holds a significant market position as one of the leading local anesthetics with 12 approved indications. Its competitive advantage lies in its mechanism of action, effectively blocking nerve impulses and providing prolonged anesthesia compared to alternatives like lidocaine and mepivacaine. A key risk is the lack of ongoing clinical trials, which may limit future expansion and innovation in its use. The pipeline outlook remains stable, but the requirement for a PD-L1 companion diagnostic for several indications could present both challenges and opportunities in targeted therapy applications.
At a glance
| Generic name | Bupivacaine Hydrochloride |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Pfizer |
| Drug class | Local anesthetic |
| Target | Sodium channels |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 1972 |
Mechanism of action
Bupivacaine works by interfering with the normal functioning of nerves. It increases the threshold needed for a nerve to fire, slows down the speed at which nerve signals travel, and reduces the speed at which the nerve signal starts. This leads to a progressive loss of sensation, starting with pain and ending with muscle tone.
Approved indications
- Anesthesia for cesarean section
- Itching of skin
- Local Anesthesia for Ophthalmologic Procedure
- Local anesthesia
- Local anesthetic intrathecal block
- Major Nerve Block for Surgery
- Minor Skin Wound Pain
- Regional Anesthesia for Labor Pain
- Regional Anesthesia for Ophthalmologic Surgery
- Regional Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain
- Regional Anesthesia for Surgery
- Skin irritation
Common side effects
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Tremors
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Headache
- Backache
Serious adverse events
- Convulsions
- Respiratory arrest
- Unconsciousness
- Total or high spinal block
- Cardiac arrest
- Respiratory paralysis
- Hypotension
- Bradycardia
- Paralysis of lower extremities
- Septic meningitis
Drug interactions
- Local Anesthetics
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
- Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Ergot-Type Oxytocic Drugs
- Nonselective Beta-Adrenergic Antagonists
- Drugs Associated with Methemoglobinemia
- Potent Inhalation Anesthetics
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Bupivacaine Hydrochloride And Epinephrine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Bupivacaine Hydrochloride And Epinephrine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Pfizer portfolio CI