Reactions to MARCAINE are characteristic of those associated with other amide-type local anesthetics. A major cause of adverse reactions to this group of drugs is excessive plasma levels, which may be due to overdosage, unintentional intravascular injection, or slow metabolic degradation.
The most commonly encountered acute adverse experiences which demand immediate counter-measures are related to the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. These adverse experiences are generally dose related and due to high plasma levels which may result from overdosage, rapid absorption from the injection site, diminished tolerance, or from unintentional intravascular injection of the local anesthetic solution. In addition to systemic dose-related toxicity, unintentional subarachnoid injection of drug during the intended performance of caudal or lumbar epidural block or nerve blocks near the vertebral column (especially in the head and neck region) may result in underventilation or apnea (“Total or High Spinal”). Also, hypotension due to loss of sympathetic tone and respiratory paralysis or underventilation due to cephalad extension of the motor level of anesthesia may occur. This may lead to secondary cardiac arrest if untreated. Patients over 65 years, particularly those with hypertension, may be at increased risk for experiencing the hypotensive effects of MARCAINE. Factors influencing plasma protein binding, such as acidosis, systemic diseases which alter protein production, or competition of other drugs for protein binding sites, may diminish individual tolerance.
Central Nervous System Reactions: These are characterized by excitation and/or depression. Restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, or tremors may occur, possibly proceeding to convulsions. However, excitement may be transient or absent, with depression being the first manifestation of an adverse reaction. This may quickly be followed by drowsiness merging into unconsciousness and respiratory arrest. Other central nervous system effects may be nausea, vomiting, chills, and constriction of the pupils.
The incidence of convulsions associated with the use of local anesthetics varies with the procedure used and the total dose administered. In a survey of studies of epidural anesthesia, overt toxicity progressing to convulsions occurred in approximately 0.1% of local anesthetic administrations.
Cardiovascular System Reactions: High doses or unintentional intravascular injection may lead to high plasma levels and related depression of the myocardium, decreased cardiac output, heartblock, hypotension, bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. (See WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, and OVERDOSAGE.)
Allergic: Allergic-type reactions are rare and may occur as a result of sensitivity to the local anesthetic or to other formulation ingredients, such as the antimicrobial preservative methylparaben contained in multiple-dose vials or sulfites in epinephrine-containing solutions. These reactions are characterized by signs such as urticaria, pruritus, erythema, angioneurotic edema (including laryngeal edema), tachycardia, sneezing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, syncope, excessive sweating, elevated temperature, and possibly, anaphylactoid-like symptomatology (including severe hypotension). Cross sensitivity among members of the amide-type local anesthetic group has been reported. The usefulness of screening for sensitivity has not been definitely established.
Neurologic: The incidences of adverse neurologic reactions associated with the use of local anesthetics may be related to the total dose of local anesthetic administered and are also dependent upon the particular drug used, the route of administration, and the physical status of the patient. Many of these effects may be related to local anesthetic techniques, with or without a contribution from the drug.
In the practice of caudal or lumbar epidural block, occasional unintentional penetration of the subarachnoid space by the catheter or needle may occur. Subsequent adverse effects may depend partially on the amount of drug administered intrathecally and the physiological and physical effects of a dural puncture. A high spinal is characterized by paralysis of the legs, loss of consciousness, respiratory paralysis, and bradycardia.
Neurologic effects following epidural or caudal anesthesia may include spinal block of varying magnitude (including high or total spinal block); hypotension secondary to spinal block; urinary retention; fecal and urinary incontinence; loss of perineal sensation and sexual function; persistent anesthesia, paresthesia, weakness, paralysis of the lower extremities and loss of sphincter control all of which may have slow, incomplete, or no recovery; headache; backache; septic meningitis; meningismus; slowing of labor; increased incidence of forceps delivery; and cranial nerve palsies due to traction on nerves from loss of cerebrospinal fluid.
Neurologic effects following other procedures or routes of administration may include persistent anesthesia, paresthesia, weakness, paralysis, all of which may have slow, incomplete, or no recovery.
(listed alphabetically under each subsection)
The following adverse reactions may be associated with corticosteroid
therapy:
Allergic reactions: Anaphylaxis including death, angioedema.
Cardiovascular: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac
arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure,
fat embolism, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants,
myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction (see WARNINGS), pulmonary edema, syncope, tachycardia,
thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis.
Dermatologic: Acne, allergic dermatitis, cutaneous
and subcutaneous atrophy, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, edema,
erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, impaired wound healing, increased
sweating, lupus erythematosus-like lesions, purpura, rash, sterile abscess,
striae, suppressed reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp
hair, urticaria.
Endocrine: Decreased carbohydrate and glucose
tolerance, development of cushingoid state, glycosuria, hirsutism, hypertrichosis,
increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes,
manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, menstrual irregularities, secondary
adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress,
as in trauma, surgery, or illness), suppression of growth in pediatric patients.
Fluid and electrolyte disturbances: Congestive
heart failure in susceptible patients, fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis,
potassium loss, sodium retention.
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal distention, bowel/bladder
dysfunction (after intrathecal administration [see WARNINGS: Neurologic]), elevation in serum liver enzyme
levels (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly, increased
appetite, nausea, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and
hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in
patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis.
Metabolic: Negative nitrogen balance due to protein
catabolism.
Musculoskeletal: Aseptic necrosis of femoral and
humeral heads, calcinosis (following intra-articular or intralesional use),
Charcot-like arthropathy, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, osteoporosis,
pathologic fracture of long bones, post injection flare (following intra-articular
use), steroid myopathy, tendon rupture, vertebral compression fractures.
Neurologic/Psychiatric: Convulsions, depression,
emotional instability, euphoria, headache, increased intracranial pressure
with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of
treatment, insomnia, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality
changes, psychiatric disorders, vertigo. Arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia,
and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration. Spinal cord infarction, paraplegia, quadriplegia, cortical blindness, and stroke (including brainstem) have been reported after epidural administration of corticosteroids (see WARNINGS: Neurologic).
Ophthalmic: Exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased
intraocular pressure, posterior subcapsular cataracts, rare instances of blindness
associated with periocular injections.
Other: Abnormal fat deposits, decreased resistance
to infection, hiccups, increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa,
malaise, moon face, weight gain.