Demerol drug card
trade/brand name
Demerol
generic name
Merperidine Hydrochloride
route of administration
Oral, I.M injection, subcutaneous injection, I.V injection
Uses of the drug
To relieve moderate to severe pain, to provide preoperative sedation, as adjunct to anesthesia, and to provide obstetric analgesia.
Actions of the drug
Binds with opiate receptors in the spinal cord and higher levels of CNS. Meperidine stimulates mu and kappa receptors, which alters the perception of emotional response to pain.
Pregnancy Category
C
dosage and frequency
50 up to 150 mg ranging from 30 minutes to 4 hours as needed. Depending on what action it is being used for.
Contradictions of the drug
Acute asthma, hypersensitivity to meperidine, severe respiratory depression, upper respiratory tract obstruction, increased intracranial pressure and use within 14 days of MAO inhibitor therapy.
Side effects and adverse reactions
Agitation, confusion, dizziness, headache, increased intracranial pressure, hypotension, tachycardia, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, respiratory arrest, seizures.
Classification of the drug
Analgesic