Bupivacaine (Marcaine®): An Evaluation of its Tissue and Systemic Toxicity in Humans

Abstract

In countries other than the U.S.A., dosages of bupivacaine have been limited to 100 mg without epinephrine and 150 mg with epinephrine. A review of 7,688 regional block procedures employing bupivacaine in concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75%, and in dosages as high as 600 mg, indicated that such stringent restrictions: (1) are unwarranted, (2) make comparisons with other local anesthetic agents difficult, and (3) are in need of revision.