Shortage of injectable ropivacaine

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable ropivacaine. This drug is sold under the brand name Naropin, and is made by APP. Unlike many other drug shortages, this one affects only a couple of the many available packages in which the drug is supplied. The company attributes the drug shortage to a move of their manufacturing facility. Ropivacaine is a local anesthetic and is often used to block labor pains by epidural anesthesia. It was developed after bupivacaine was shown to sometimes cause pregnant women to go into cardiac arrest.