Xylocaine vs. Marcaine

• Are Xylocaine and Marcaine the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Xylocaine?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Marcaine?
• What Is Xylocaine?
• What Is Marcaine?
• What Drugs Interact with Xylocaine?
• What Drugs Interact with Marcaine?
• How Should Xylocaine Be Taken?
• How Should Marcaine Be Taken?

Xylocaine (lidocaine) and Marcaine (bupivacaine hydrochloride)are local anesthetics (numbing medicines used in one area).

Marcaine is longer acting and used for a spinal block. Lidocaine is used for local or regional anesthesia. A brand name for lidocaine injection is Xylocaine.

Common side effects of Xylocaine include:

• nausea,
• dizziness,
• numbness in places where the medicine is accidentally applied, or
• bruising, redness, itching, or swelling where the medication was injected.

Unlikely but serious side effects of Xylocaine include:

• drowsiness,
• mental/mood changes,
• ringing in the ears,
• dizziness,
• vision changes,
• tremors,
• numbness,
• headache, or
• backache.

Common side effects of Marcaine include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• chills or shivering,
• headache,
• back pain,
• dizziness,
• problems with sexual function,
• restlessness,
• anxiety,
• dizziness,
• ringing in the ears,
• blurred vision, or
• tremors.

Xylocaine (lidocaine HCl) Injection is a local anesthetic used for local or regional anesthesia.

Marcaine (bupivacaine hydrochloride) Injection is an anesthetic (numbing medicine) used as a local (in one area) anesthetic for a spinal block.

Xylocaine may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), antidepressants, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, vasopressor drugs, ergot-type oxytocic drugs, or drugs that can cause drowsiness such as medicine for sleep, sedatives, tranquilizers, anti-anxiety drugs, narcotics, psychiatric medicines, anti-seizure drugs, muscle relaxants, or antihistamines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Marcaine may interact with blood thinners, ergot medicines, MAO inhibitors, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications you use. During pregnancy, Marcaine should be used only if prescribed. This medication may be harmful to a fetus.

For normal healthy adults, the individual maximum recommended dose of Xylocaine should not exceed 4.5 mg/kg (2 mg/lb) of body weight, and in general it is recommended that the maximum total dose does not exceed 300 mg.

The dose of Marcaine varies with the anesthetic procedure, the area to be anesthetized, the vascularity of the tissues, the number of segments to be blocked, the depth of anesthesia and degree of muscle relaxation required, the duration of anesthesia desired, individual tolerance, and the physical condition of the patient. The smallest dose and concentration required to produce the desired result should be administered.