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