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Frequently asked questions about EXPAREL.

Frequently asked questions about EXPAREL.

What is EXPAREL?
EXPAREL is a medication that helps control your pain after surgery so that you can have a good recovery. EXPAREL is not an opioid or narcotic. It works in your body where you had surgery, unlike opioids, which affect the whole body.
During a procedure, the doctor places EXPAREL into the surgical area. EXPAREL contains specially formulated bupivacaine (a type of local anesthetic) that is designed to release into your body over a long period of time for lasting pain relief. Because EXPAREL works over time, you may need fewer doses of other medications, including opioids. In fact, EXPAREL is proven to help patients use fewer opioids as they start their recovery.
Which surgical procedures can EXPAREL be used for?
EXPAREL can provide relief in many kinds of surgery, including…
General surgery: Colon, Stomach, Hernia, Kidney, Weight loss
Orthopedic surgery: Knee, Hip, Spine, Foot, Ankle, Hand, Shoulder
Oral surgery: Wisdom teeth, Jaw
OB-GYN / Breast surgery: Hysterectomy, Fibroid, Breast, C-section (Caesarean section)
EXPAREL can be used in more types of surgery than what is listed here. Talk to your doctor to see if EXPAREL is right for you. If you still need to find a doctor, use the Surgeon Selector to locate someone near you who uses EXPAREL.
How does EXPAREL work?
EXPAREL numbs the pain in the area on your body where your surgery is performed. EXPAREL slowly releases a medication (local anesthetic) called bupivacaine. This slow release makes it possible for EXPAREL to give you long-lasting pain relief after surgery with just a single dose.
How long does EXPAREL work?
Everyone experiences pain, and pain management, differently. In clinical trials, patients who received EXPAREL have been shown to experience pain relief during the first few days after surgery.
How is EXPAREL given?
Your doctor injects EXPAREL directly into the area of your body where the surgery is being performed, during the procedure. This is the only time you will receive EXPAREL, so there are no follow-up doses. Because EXPAREL is used during your surgery, your doctor needs to know ahead of time if it is something you are interested in receiving. Talk about pain management during your consultation so your doctor can plan ahead.
Does EXPAREL have side effects?
Side effects can occur with any medication; it is important not to ignore anything you might feel. Some patients in clinical trials who received EXPAREL or other pain relievers experienced nausea, vomiting, fever, and/or constipation. Speak with your doctor right away if you get any of these more frequent side effects, or if you have questions about possible side effects.
Is EXPAREL an opioid?
No, EXPAREL is not an opioid medication and is not addictive. EXPAREL controls pain by releasing a numbing medication slowly and directly in the area of the body where surgery was performed.
How are opioids related to heroin?
Morphine, a type of opioid, is very similar to heroin. The similarities include how morphine and heroin work, and the effects they have on the body.
When should I speak to my doctor about EXPAREL?
Since EXPAREL is something your doctor uses during surgery, it is important to have a conversation with him or her well before your procedure. When you see your doctor for your surgical consultation, make sure to ask about your pain management plan and talk about your needs and preferences. Customize your Discussion Guide so you can bring specific talking points to your appointment.
What if my doctor doesn't use EXPAREL?
If you are interested in receiving EXPAREL for postsurgical pain relief, the Surgeon Selector can help you find a doctor nearby who uses EXPAREL.
Will I need to take other pain medications along with EXPAREL? Can I take other pain medications along with EXPAREL?
Your doctor may prescribe additional pain medications along with EXPAREL. Often, doctors will choose to combine medications to try to limit the amount of medicine you need, and therefore limit the risk of side effects. Talk to your doctor about your pain management plan before surgery so you know what to expect.
What does EXPAREL cost? Does it add to the bill for my surgery?
The charge for EXPAREL depends on many factors, including: the facility where your surgery happens, the type of surgery, the amount of EXPAREL you receive, and your insurance coverage. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor and treatment team as you talk about your surgery and post-surgical pain management plan.
What is EXPAREL?
EXPAREL is a medication that helps control your child’s pain after surgery so that they can have a comfortable recovery. EXPAREL is not an opioid or narcotic. It works in the area of your child’s body where they had surgery—unlike opioids, which affect the whole body.
During a procedure, the doctor places EXPAREL into the surgical area. EXPAREL contains specially formulated bupivacaine (a type of local anesthetic) that is designed to release into your child’s body over a long period of time, for lasting pain relief. Because EXPAREL works over time, your child may need fewer doses of other medications, including opioids. In fact, EXPAREL is proven to help patients use fewer opioids as they start their recovery. EXPAREL was studied in and proven safe for children ages 6 and above.
In which pediatric surgeries can EXPAREL be used?
EXPAREL can provide pain relief in many kinds of pediatric surgery, including:
ACL repair, Appendectomy, Cardiothoracic surgery, Chest deformity, Cleft palate repair, Hernia repair, Scoliosis surgery, Tonsillectomy, Torn meniscus, and Wisdom teeth removal.
EXPAREL can be used in more types of surgery than those listed here. Talk to your child’s doctor to see if EXPAREL is right for your child. Customize your Pediatric Discussion Guide so you can bring specific talking points to your child’s appointment.
Is my child too young for EXPAREL?
EXPAREL was specifically studied and proven safe to provide long-lasting pain relief after surgery in children ages 6 and above.
How does EXPAREL work during and after my child’s surgery?
EXPAREL numbs the pain in the area of your child’s body where surgery is performed. EXPAREL slowly releases a local anesthetic called bupivacaine. This slow release makes it possible for EXPAREL to give your child long-lasting pain relief after surgery with just a single dose given during surgery.
How long will my child experience the effects of EXPAREL?
Everyone experiences pain and recovery differently. In clinical trials, patients who received EXPAREL have been shown to experience pain relief during the first few days after surgery, resulting in fewer opioids being needed.
When will EXPAREL be given to my child?
Your child's doctor injects EXPAREL directly into the area of your child’s body where the surgery is being performed, which can be done before surgery or during the procedure. This is the only time your child will receive EXPAREL, so there are no follow-up doses. Because EXPAREL is used during your child’s surgery, your child's doctor needs to know ahead of time if it is something you are interested in your child receiving. Talk about pain management during the consultation so the doctor can plan ahead. Customize your Pediatric Discussion Guide so you can bring specific talking points to your child’s appointment.
Will my child experience any side effects from EXPAREL?
Side effects can occur with any medication; it is important not to ignore anything your child might feel. Some children in a safety trial who received EXPAREL experienced nausea, vomiting, constipation, low blood pressure, low number of red blood cells, muscle twitching, temporary blurred vision,* itching, and rapid heartbeat. Speak with your child’s doctor right away if they experience any of these side effects, or if you have questions about possible side effects.
*Temporary vision blurred can be caused when a child is lying on their stomach for several hours undergoing surgery on their back or spine.
Can my child become addicted to or dependent on EXPAREL?
EXPAREL is non-opioid and it is not addictive. EXPAREL controls pain by releasing a numbing medication slowly and directly in the area of the body where your child's surgery was performed.
How are opioids related to heroin?
Morphine, a type of opioid, is very similar to heroin. The similarities include how morphine and heroin work, and the effects they have on the body.
When should I ask my child’s doctor about EXPAREL?
When you see your child’s doctor for a surgical consultation, make sure to ask about your child’s pain management plan, including the use of opioids, and talk about your child’s needs and preferences. Customize your Pediatric Discussion Guide so you can bring specific talking points to your child’s appointment. Do not be afraid to ask your child’s doctor about the healing process and the pain your child should expect following surgery. Understanding their recovery and how you can best support them will make the transition from hospital to home that much more seamless.
What if my child’s doctor doesn’t use EXPAREL?
When you see your child’s doctor for a surgical consultation, make sure to ask about your child’s pain management plan, including the use of opioids, and talk about your child’s needs and preferences. Customize your Pediatric Discussion Guide so you can bring specific talking points to your child’s appointment.
Will my child need additional pain medications other than EXPAREL? Can my child take other pain medications?
Your child’s doctor may prescribe additional pain medications along with EXPAREL. Often, doctors will prescribe medications such as NSAIDs and other non-opioid pain medications to limit the risk of side effects. In some cases, opioids will be prescribed as a last resort if your child is not getting the pain relief they need. Make sure to ask your doctor about side effects and risks of these medications, as they should only be used when necessary. Talk to your child’s doctor about a pain management plan before surgery so you and your child know what to expect.
How much does EXPAREL cost? Will it add a lot to the bill for my child’s surgery?
The charge for EXPAREL depends on many factors, including your insurance coverage. Be sure to discuss this with your child’s doctor and treatment team as you talk about your child’s surgery and postsurgical pain management plan.

Indication

EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged 6 years and older and regional analgesia in adults via an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa, and an adductor canal block. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other nerve blocks.

Important Safety Information

EXPAREL should not be used in obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia.

In studies in adults where EXPAREL was injected into a wound, the most common side effects were nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

In studies in adults where EXPAREL was injected near a nerve, the most common side effects were nausea, fever, headache, and constipation.

In the study where EXPAREL was given to children, the most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, constipation, low blood pressure, low number of red blood cells, muscle twitching, blurred vision, itching, and rapid heartbeat.

EXPAREL can cause a temporary loss of feeling and/or loss of muscle movement. How much and how long the loss of feeling and/or muscle movement depends on where and how much of EXPAREL was injected and may last for up to 5 days.

EXPAREL is not recommended to be used in patients younger than 6 years old for injection into the wound, for patients younger than 18 years old for injection near a nerve, and/or in pregnant women.

Tell your health care provider if you or your child has liver disease, since this may affect how the active ingredient (bupivacaine) in EXPAREL is eliminated from the body.

EXPAREL should not be injected into the spine, joints, or veins.

The active ingredient in EXPAREL can affect the nervous system and the cardiovascular system; may cause an allergic reaction; may cause damage if injected into the joints; and can cause a rare blood disorder.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

See More

EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged 6 years and older and regional analgesia in adults via an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa, and an adductor canal block. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other nerve blocks.

Important Safety Information