Demerol

Dem·er·ol (dm-rôl, -rl)

A trademark for the drug meperidine hydrochloride.

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Demerol,

trademark for an opioid analgesic (meperidine hydrochloride).

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Demerol (dem´rôl),

n.pr the brand name for meperidine hydrochloride.

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Demerol

a proprietary name for meperidine.

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meperidine hydrochloride (pethidine hydrochloride) Warning - High-alert drug!

Demerol

Pharmacologic class: Opioid agonist

Therapeutic class: Analgesic, adjunct to anesthesia

Controlled substance schedule II

Pregnancy risk category C

Action

Binds to and depresses opiate receptors in spinal cord and CNS, altering perception of and response to pain

Availability

Injection: 10 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 75 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml

Syrup: 50 mg/5 ml

Tablets: 50 mg, 100 mg

⊘Indications and dosages

➣ Moderate to severe pain

Adults: 50 to 150 mg P.O., I.M., or subcutaneously q 3 to 4 hours as needed

Children: 1.1 to 1.8 mg/kg P.O., I.M., or subcutaneously q 3 to 4 hours, not to exceed 100 mg/dose

➣ Preoperative sedation

Adults: 50 to 100 mg I.M. or subcutaneously 30 to 90 minutes before anesthesia, or 15 to 35 mg/hour I.V. as a continuous infusion

Children: 1 to 2.2 mg/kg I.M. or subcutaneously 30 to 90 minutes before anesthesia. Don't exceed adult dosage.

➣ Analgesia during labor

Adults: 50 to 100 mg I.M. or subcutaneously when contractions are regular. May repeat q 1 to 3 hours.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug or bisulfites (with some injectable products)
• MAO inhibitor use within past 14 days

Precautions

Use cautiously in:
• head trauma; increased intracranial pressure (ICP); severe renal, hepatic, or pulmonary disease; hypothyroidism; adrenal insufficiency; extensive burns; alcoholism
• undiagnosed abdominal pain or prostatic hyperplasia
• elderly or debilitated patients
• pregnant patients (not recommended before labor)
• labor (drug may cause respiratory depression in neonate)
• breastfeeding patients
• children.

Administration

• Give I.M. injection slowly into large muscle. Preferably, use diluted solution.
• Be aware that drug is compatible with 5% dextrose and lactated Ringer's solution, dextrose-saline solution combinations, and 2.5%, 5%, or 10% dextrose in water.
☞ Know that drug is not compatible with soluble barbiturates, aminophylline, heparin, morphine sulfate, methicillin, phenytoin, sodium bicarbonate, iodide, sulfadiazine, or sulfisoxazole.
• Don't give for chronic pain control, because of potential toxicity and dependence.

Route	Onset	Peak	Duration
P.O.	15 min	60 min	2-4 hr
I.V.	Immediate	5-7 min	2-4 hr
I.M.	10-15 min	30-50 min	2-4 hr
Subcut.	10-15 min	40-60 min	2-4 hr

Adverse reactions

CNS: confusion, sedation, dysphoria, euphoria, floating feeling, hallucinations, headache, unusual dreams, seizures

CV: hypotension, bradycardia, cardiac arrest, shock

EENT: blurred vision, diplopia, miosis

GI: nausea, vomiting, constipation, ileus, biliary tract spasms

GU: urinary retention

Respiratory: respiratory depression, respiratory arrest

Skin: flushing, sweating, induration

Other: pain at injection site, local irritation, physical or psychological drug dependence, drug tolerance

Interactions

Drug-drug. Antihistamines, sedative-hypnotics: additive CNS depression

Barbiturates, cimetidine, protease inhibitor antiretrovirals: increased respiratory and CNS depression

Chlorpromazine, thioridazine: increased risk of meperidine toxicity

MAO inhibitors, procarbazine: potentially fatal reaction

Opioid agonist-antagonists: precipitation of opioid withdrawal in physically dependent patients

Phenytoin: increased meperidine metabolism and decreased effects

Drug-diagnostic tests. Amylase, lipase: increased levels

Drug-herbs. Chamomile, hops, kava, skullcap, valerian: increased CNS depression

Drug-behaviors. Alcohol use: increased CNS depression

Patient monitoring

☞ Monitor vital signs. Don't give drug if patient has significant respiratory or CNS depression.
• Reassess patient's pain level after administration.
☞ Watch for seizures, agitation, irritability, nervousness, tremors, twitches, and myoclonus in patients at risk for normeperidine accumulation (such as those with renal or hepatic impairment).
☞ Use with extreme caution in patients with head injury. Drug may increase ICP and cause adverse reactions that obscure clinical course.
• Closely monitor patients with acute abdominal pain. Drug may obscure diagnosis and clinical course of GI condition.
• Evaluate bowel and bladder function.
• With long-term or repeated use, watch for psychological and physical drug dependence and tolerance.
☞ With pediatric patients, stay alert for increased risk of seizures.

Patient teaching

• Tell patient using oral syrup to take drug with a half-glass of water to minimize local anesthetic effect.
• Caution patient to avoid driving and other hazardous activities, because drug may cause dizziness or drowsiness.
• Advise patient to avoid alcohol.
• Instruct ambulatory patient to change position slowly to avoid orthostatic hypotension.
• Tell female patient to inform prescriber if she is pregnant or breastfeeding.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, herbs, and behaviors mentioned above.

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Demerol®

Meperidine, see there