What is EXPAREL?

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EXPAREL is a non-narcotic local analgesic. It is administered during your procedure directly into the surgical site. A single application of EXPAREL is long lasting, so your doctor doesn’t need to use catheters or other devices to extend your pain control.

 

EXPAREL is also proven to help patients use fewer narcotics as they start their recovery.

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Products that contain bupivacaine, the active ingredient in EXPAREL, may cause temporary numbness in the area injected.

 

How does EXPAREL WORK?

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Just like the dentist numbs your mouth when you get a filling, surgeons use EXPAREL to numb the area on your body where your surgery is performed. EXPAREL is specially formulated to slowly release a proven ingredient—called bupivacaine—over time. This slow release makes it possible for EXPAREL to control pain after surgery and potentially decrease your need for narcotic medication with just a single dose.

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Rarely, patients who receive bupivacaine (the active ingredient in EXPAREL) have experienced numbness and tingling in their mouth or lips, lightheadedness, anxiety, or abnormal heart rate.

 

If you are given EXPAREL, speak with your doctor right away if you think you may be experiencing any of these sensations, or if you have other questions regarding possible side effects.

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What makes EXPAREL different?

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• EXPAREL starts controlling postsurgical pain before you wake up from surgery—your doctor injects it directly into the site of your surgery during the procedure

• EXPAREL is long lasting, which can mean less pain, and less of other pain medications, such as narcotics. In clinical trials, some patients didn’t need to take narcotic pain medications at all

• EXPAREL numbs just the area around the surgical site

• EXPAREL is not a narcotic, so it may avoid concerns about taking narcotics

 

Possible side effects with EXPAREL

 

Side effects can occur with any medication; it is important not to ignore anything you may be experiencing. Patients in clinical trials who received EXPAREL and placebo experienced nausea, vomiting, and/or constipation. Speak with your doctor right away if you experience any of these most frequent side effects, or if you have other questions regarding any side effects.

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Frequently Asked Questions about EXPAREL

 

To learn more visit: EXPAREL PATIENT SITE

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