Meperidine

General

  • Type: opioid
  • Dosage Forms: PO, SC,IM,IV
  • Common Trade Names: Demerol

Adult Dosing

General

Pain:

  • 50-150mg PO/SC/IM/IV q3-4h: decrease dose if given IV. Seizure risk if dose > 600mg in 24 hours.

Pediatric Dosing

Pain: 1-1.75mg/kg PO/SC/IM q3-4h, max 100mg/dose


Special Populations

  • Pregnancy Rating: B
  • Lactation Risk Categories: safe
  • Renal Dosing
    • Adult: CrCl 10-50: decrease dose 25%, if CrCl < 10: decrease dose 50%
    • Pediatric: CrCl 10-50: decrease dose 25%, if CrCl < 10: decrease dose 50%
  • Hepatic Dosing
    • Adult: not defined
    • Pediatric: not defined

Contraindications

  • Allergy to class/drug
  • MAOI use within 14 days
  • Respiratory depression

Adverse Reactions

Serious

  • Respiratory Depression
  • Apnea
  • Hypotension
  • syncope
  • bradycardia
  • urinary retention
  • Seizures
  • anaphylaxis

Common

  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • xerostomia
  • constipation
  • Tremor
  • urinary retention

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: 3-5 hour
  • Metabolism: Liver
  • Excretion: urine
  • Mechanism of Action:binds to various opioid receptors