Health Library

Chloroprocaine (By injection)

Chloroprocaine (klor-oh-PROE-kane)

Numbs your skin or some parts of your body before surgery or other medical procedures. This medicine is a local anesthetic.

Brand Name(s):

Nesacaine, Nesacaine-MPF

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. You may receive the injection into your rib cage, chest, or other body areas. Only Nesacaine®-MPF is given through a catheter placed into your lower back for an epidural or a spinal block.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

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

• Some medicines can affect how chloroprocaine works. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
  • Acetaminophen, chloroquine, metoclopramide, primaquine, quinine, sulfasalazine
  • Blood pressure medicine
  • Cancer medicine (including cyclophosphamide, flutamide, hydroxyurea, ifosfamide, rasburicase)
  • Ergot medicine
  • Medicine to treat an infection (including dapsone, nitrofurantoin, para-aminosalicylic acid, sulfonamide)
  • Medicine to treat depression
  • Medicine to treat seizures (including phenobarbital, phenytoin, sodium valproate)
  • Nitrate or nitrite medicine (including nitric oxide, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, nitrous oxide)
  • Phenothiazine medicine (including chlorpromazine, promethazine)

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, high or low blood pressure, lung or breathing problems, a blood disorder, G6PD, or nerve disease.
• This medicine may cause methemoglobinemia (blood disorder).
• You may experience temporary loss of sensation and movement, usually in the lower half of your body, if you receive this medicine into your lower back (epidural). 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.
• If you are receiving Nesacaine®-MPF as an epidural to ease labor pains, it may take longer than normal for you to push your baby out. It is also possible that the baby may have unwanted effects after birth (including sleepiness, slow responses).
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

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
• Anxiety, dizziness, ringing in your ears, depression, or drowsiness
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Fainting or lightheadedness
• Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat
• Fever or increased sweating
• Pale, gray, or blue lips, nails, or skin, dark urine, headache, unusual tiredness or weakness
• Tremors or seizures

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

• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

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: 9/6/2024