Meperidine (Demerol)

Category:

  • Analgesic

Description:

  • Synthetic opiate agonist analgesic

  Indications:

  • Moderate to severe pain

  • Anesthesia adjunct for preoperative sedation

Contraindications:

  • Patients with impaired respiratory function.

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy Category C

  • Use with caution in patients with atrial flutter and other superventricular tachycardias.

  • Patients will experience CNS effects of drowsiness and dizziness, therefore use caution with motor vehicle operation or other hazardous tasks.

  • Avoid prolonged, sustained usage to decrease addiction potential.

  • Use with caution with other CNS depressive medications.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Sedation

  • Dizziness

  • GI effects (nausea, vomiting, dry mouth)

Dosage:

Administered in smallest effective dose, as infrequently as possible and titrated to pain control

Administered orally, SQ, IM, slow IV, or slow IV infusion

Adult:

  • Normal oral, SQ or IM: 50-150mg q3-4h as needed

  • Slow IV infusion 15-35mg per hour

Children: 

  • 1.1-1.8 mg/kg q3-4h as needed

Preoperative, Anesthesia adjunct:

  • Adult: 50-100mg SQ or IM 30-90 minutes before anesthesia

  • Children: 1-2.2 mg/kg (up to adult dose) SQ or IM 30-90 minutes before anesthesia

Labor anesthesia:

  • 50-100mg SQ or IM when labor pain begins, repeat at 1-3 hour intervals if needed

 

The information contained here is an abbreviated summary. For more detailed and complete information, consult the manufacturer's product information sheets or standard textbooks.

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300

Gynecology and Obstetrics CD-ROM
Volumes 1-6
2004 Edition
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Copyright 2004
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