Ropivacaine hydrochloride monohydrate is a sodium channel inhibitor. Ropivacaine hydrochloride monohydrate blocks impulse conduction in nerve fibres through inhibiting sodium ion influx reversibly^[1][2]. In Vitro: Ropivacaine has vasoconstrictive properties. Ropivacaine given epidurally provided adequate sensory anesthesia and motor block for transurethral surgery. Addition of epinephrine did not provide any significant prolongation of the sensory or motor block, nor any influence upon the sympathetic block^[1].
Ropivacaine was metabolized to 2',6'-pipecoloxylidide (PPX), 3'-hydroxyropivacaine (3'-OH Rop), and 4'-hydroxyropivacaine (4'-OH Rop) by hepatic microsomes from human and rat. Ropivacaine N-dealkylation and 3'-hydroxylation activities correlated well with the level of CYP3A4 and 1A2 in human hepatic microsomes, respectively^[2].