Drug Notes

Mepivacaine (By injection)

Mepivacaine (me-PIV-a-kane)

Causes numbness or loss of feeling in an area of your body. Used during a procedure to prevent pain.

Brand Name(s):

Carbocaine, Polocaine, Polocaine Dental, Polocaine-MPF

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine. Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how the medicine will be given.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol. Make sure your doctor knows about any other medicine you have used recently.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of stroke or other blood flow problems to the brain, liver disease, diabetes, or kidney disease. Make sure your doctor knows if you have thyroid problems, high blood pressure, or other circulation problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart disease or heart rhythm problems. Make sure your doctor knows if you have had an allergic reaction to any medicine in the past.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• It may be easier to hurt yourself without knowing it while your treated body area is still numb. Be careful to avoid injury until the feeling is back in the area and you are no longer numb.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Dizziness, drowsiness, confusion (trouble thinking), seizures (convulsions), or fainting.
• Loss of feeling or movement that lasts longer than your doctor told you to expect.
• Loss of feeling or movement that happens somewhere else in your body other than the area that was numbed for treatment.
• Sudden or severe headache, or problems with vision, speech, or walking.
• Tremors, shaking, chills, or unexplained sweating.
• Uneven, pounding, or slow heartbeat.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Restlessness, anxiety.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017