This article describes Exparel’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how it’s given. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for Exparel. If you want to know more about Exparel, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Exparel is a brand-name medication that comes as a liquid suspension for injection. It isn’t available in a generic version. This article describes dosages of Exparel.
Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? For certain health conditions, Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care with no appointment required. For $25, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board certified healthcare professional in 15 minutes or less. Get started here.
Form and strength of Exparel
Exparel comes as follows:
- Form: 1.3% liquid suspension that you receive by injection through the skin and into soft tissues near pain nerves at the surgical site
- Strengths: 133 milligrams (mg) in 10 milliliters (mL), 266 mg in 20 mL
Once Exparel is injected, the medication is slowly released in the area and results in a few days of pain relief.
Dosage of Exparel
This article describes the recommended dosages for Exparel. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
Your doctor will prescribe Exparel as part of your pain management plan during the time of your surgery. They will determine the dosage that best meets your pain management needs and will administer the dose during your surgery.
Usual recommended dosage of Exparel in adults
Exparel is used to provide pain relief after surgery. It does this by numbing certain areas of your body or blocking nerves from sending pain signals.
Doctors will determine your dosage of Exparel based on the type and size of the surgical area and the volume of drug needed to provide the most pain relief. Dosing is typically as follows:
| Purpose | Recommended dose | Maximum dosage |
|---|---|---|
| local pain relief | depends on the type of surgery | 266 mg |
| nerve block | 133 mg | 133 mg |
Depending on how quickly pain relief is needed, your doctor may mix Exparel with an immediate-release form of the same drug before injecting it. The immediate-release form is called bupivacaine HCL. Sometimes saline is also added to the injection to cover pain relief over a larger surgical area.
Dosage of Exparel in children
Exparel is approved for local pain relief for certain types of surgery in children ages 6–17 years. The dosage is based on weight and is typically as follows:
| Purpose | Recommended dose | Maximum dosage |
|---|---|---|
| local pain relief | 4 mg per kilogram (kg) in weight | 266 mg |
Exparel is not approved to be given as a nerve block in children.
Speak with your doctor if you have questions about pain relief after your child’s surgery.
Dosage adjustments for Exparel
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of Exparel based on several factors. These include:
- the size of the surgical site
- your age
- other health conditions you may have
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Exparel and its dosage.
How does the dosage of Exparel compare with the dosage of lidocaine?
Exparel and lidocaine can both be used for local pain relief and certain nerve blocks.
Exparel is a 1.3% solution. Typically, 10–20 mL is administered, but this can be lower or higher depending on the type of surgery you had.
The most common dose of lidocaine used is 1% or 2%. The volume of lidocaine given is usually 10–20 mL.
Exparel is released over several days in the surgical area. Lidocaine, on the other hand, starts to work right away, but pain relief lasts for only a short period of time.
Another difference is that Exparel is given as only one dose. Lidocaine sometimes has to be given more than once during surgery because of the short-acting nature of the drug.
Speak with your doctor to learn more about how the dosage of Exparel compares with lidocaine and which medication may work best for you.
What is the Exparel 50 rule?
Exparel is a form of bupivacaine that is released slowly after it’s injected at the surgical site. Because it’s released slowly, it provides pain relief for a longer period of time during and after your surgery.
But, in some situations, you may need more immediate pain relief in addition to Exparel’s longer pain management. In this case, Exparel can be mixed with an immediate-release form of the same drug called bupivacaine HCL.
The Exparel 50 rule has to do with the amount of bupivacaine HCL that can be mixed with Exparel.
According to the Exparel 50 rule, the amount of bupivacaine HCL used should not be more than 50% (or half) of the Exparel used. For example, if 133 milligrams (mg) of Exparel is used, no more than 66.5 mg of bupivacaine HCL should be mixed with it.
If too much bupivacaine HCL is mixed with Exparel, it could affect how much Exparel your body absorbs and how quickly your body absorbs Exparel. This may lead to overdose.
Talk with your doctor if you want to know more about the Exparel 50 rule and what it means.
Is Exparel used long term?
No, doctors don’t typically prescribe Exparel as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended for short-term use as a one-time dose during or after surgery.
If you have questions about how long Exparel works, talk with your doctor.
How Exparel is administered
Your doctor or healthcare professional will inject Exparel once during surgery or shortly afterward. The injection will be given through the skin and into soft tissues near pain nerves at the surgical site.
Speak with your doctor if you have any questions on how or when they will give you Exparel.
Exparel coupon
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for Exparel when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
However, coupons may not be available for medications that are only given by a healthcare professional, such as Exparel.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardWhat to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for Exparel. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How long will Exparel last after my procedure?
- What dose of Exparel will I be given during or after my surgery?
- When will I be given Exparel?
- Where will Exparel be injected?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.