Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection Shortage: FDA Updates Availability and Manufacturer Status
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The FDA reports a current shortage of Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection due to increased demand, with mixed availability across major manufacturers.
What this FDA drug-shortage notice tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by FDA on February 11, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Drug Shortages — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly FDA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized FDA drug-shortage notice is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.
For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (drug-shortage, fda, medication, Bupivacaine Hydrochloride) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.
What's in Shortage
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection, a medication used for anesthesia, is currently listed in shortage. This includes brand-name versions such as Sensorcaine and Sensorcaine MPF. The shortage affects various strengths of the injection, including 2.5 mg/1 mL, 5 mg/1 mL, and 7.5 mg/1 mL presentations.
Which Manufacturers Are Affected
Two primary manufacturers are listed in the FDA database with the following statuses:
- Eugia US LLC (888-238-7880): All listed presentations of Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (2.5 mg/1 mL, 5 mg/1 mL, and 7.5 mg/1 mL) are currently Available. The manufacturer advises checking with wholesalers for current inventory.
- Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC (888-386-1300): This manufacturer reports mixed availability for its Sensorcaine products:
- Unavailable: Sensorcaine 2.5 mg/1 mL (NDC 63323-464-31) and Sensorcaine 5 mg/1 mL (NDC 63323-466-31).
- Available: Various other presentations of Sensorcaine in 2.5 mg/1 mL, 5 mg/1 mL, and 7.5 mg/1 mL strengths remain available. Wholesalers should be contacted for inventory updates.
Why There's a Shortage
According to the FDA, the primary reason for the current shortage is a demand increase for the drug.
What Patients Should Do
If you are scheduled for a procedure requiring anesthesia, please be aware of this supply update. Patients should:
- Consult with their healthcare provider or surgeon regarding the availability of medications for their specific procedure.
- Speak with a pharmacist if they have questions about local supply.
- Contact the manufacturers directly using the phone numbers provided above for the most recent distribution information.
Disclaimer: Patients should always consult their healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment options. Do not make changes to your medical care without professional consultation.
Source
Information provided by the FDA Drug Shortage Database.
- Initial Posting Date: 02/20/2018
- Last Updated: 02/05/2026
Original source: FDA Official Notice ↗
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