One of many local anesthetics in the -caine family of medications that almost instantly block electrical signals from being conducted along the nerves. Bupivacaine is used often in conjunction with cortisone injections to make the injection itself more comfortable and to provide instantaneous relief to the patient for several hours. Some people are allergic to these drugs. Other drugs in the family include Novocain, Xylocaine, lidocaine, Marcaine, and cocaine (which also has highly addictive effects on the brain, unlike these other drugs).