Exparel is approved for use as a nerve block in certain nerves in your body. As a nerve block, the drug is used to stop certain nerves from sending pain signals from one area of your body to your brain and spinal cord.
Exparel is approved for this use in nerves located in your brachial plexus. (The brachial plexus is a set of nerves that sends signals between your spinal cord and your shoulder, arm, or hand.) If you’ve had surgery on an area of your body that’s affected by the brachial plexus, your doctor may inject Exparel into the area to help relieve pain.
However, with a transversus abdominus plane (TAP) block, a numbing medication is injected into nerves in your abdominal wall. Exparel isn’t approved for that use. It’s only approved for use as a nerve block in your brachial plexus.
Exparel is currently being studied to see if it’s effective as a TAP block. But more information is needed to determine whether Exparel should be used in this way. At this time, it’s not known whether Exparel is safe or effective for use as a nerve block in areas of your body other than the brachial plexus.