What is Meperidine?
Meperidine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine.
Meperidine is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain.
Meperidine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Meperidine?
Meperidine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Meperidine should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking meperidine. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.
Never take more than your prescribed dose of meperidine. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Meperidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Do not stop using meperidine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Meperidine?
Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to meperidine, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take meperidine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Meperidine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Meperidine should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take meperidine:
- asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders
- liver or kidney disease
- underactive thyroid
- curvature of the spine
- a history of head injury or brain tumor
- epilepsy or other seizure disorder
- low blood pressure
- gallbladder disease
- Addison’s disease or other adrenal gland disorders
- enlarged prostate, urination problems
- mental illness; or
- a history of drug or alcohol addiction
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether meperidine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Meperidine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medication.
Meperidine Side Effects
What are the possible side effects of Meperidine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- shallow breathing, slow heartbeat
- seizure (convulsions)
- cold, clammy skin
- confusion
- severe weakness or dizziness; or
- feeling light-headed, fainting
Less serious side effects may include:
- constipation
- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
- dizziness, headache
- dry mouth
- sweating
- itching
- urinating less than usual; or
- loss of interest in sex
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Meperidine Interactions
What other drugs affect Meperidine?
Do not take meperidine with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.
Before taking meperidine, tell your doctor if you are using pentazocine (Talwin), nalbuphine (Nubain), butorphanol (Stadol), or buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use meperidine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with meperidine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What should I avoid while taking Meperidine?
Do not drink alcohol while you are using meperidine. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with meperidine. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.
Meperidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Meperidine Dosage
How should I take Meperidine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take meperidine in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Take meperidine with food or milk if it causes stomach upset.
Measure the liquid form of meperidine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.
Do not stop using meperidine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
Store meperidine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Meperidine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
After you have stopped using this medication, flush any unused pills down the toilet.
What happens if I overdose on Meperidine?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of meperidine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, slow heart rate, fainting, or coma.
What happens if I miss a dose of Meperidine?
Since meperidine is sometimes used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com