Levobupivacaine is an anaesthetic most commonly used for nerve block, it belonds to the pipecoloxylidide family. It is an enantiomer of bupivacaine, capable of less vasodilation and longer duration of action. Adverse effects only are anticipated if levobupivacaine is administered incorrectly, which leads to systemic exposure and toxicity due to overexposure. Levobupivacaine acts as an anaesthetic through blocking nerve impulse generation and conduction, by reducing the rate of action potential through binding of the intracellular portion of sodium channels and blocks the sodium influx into nerve cells. Levobupivacaine is metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 into desbutyl levobupivacaine and 3-hydroxy levobupivacaine. 3-hydroxy levobupivacaine is capable of being further metabolized to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates.

Levobupivacaine References