What is the maximum dose of bupivacaine for a 70 kg adult?

• A. 90 Mg
• B. 60 Mg
• C. 120 Mg
• D. 150 Mg

Answer: (A)

Dosing local anesthetics is guided by milligrams per kilogram to prevent systemic toxicity, since higher total amounts increase the risk to brain and heart. Bupivacaine is more cardiotoxic and has a longer duration than many other agents, so clinicians use a relatively conservative single‑dose ceiling. In many dental pharmacology contexts used for exams, about 90 mg is the conservative maximum for a 70 kg adult. That makes sense clinically: 0.5% bupivacaine contains 5 mg per mL, so 18 mL equals 90 mg, a straightforward calculation that keeps safety margins in mind. The other numbers would exceed this typical classroom ceiling and lift the risk of toxicity within this exam framework. In actual practice, higher limits may be considered if vasoconstrictors are used or under different guidelines, but the key point remains calculating by mg/kg and respecting the agent’s toxicity profile.