• Basic Info
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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 purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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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 are more likely to occur, such as:

• constipation;

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

• dizziness, headache;

• dry mouth;

• sweating;

• itching;

• urinating less than usual; or

• loss of interest in sex.

This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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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.

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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.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
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.

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What other drugs will 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.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Meperidine has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. It has been frequently used in pregnancy and during labor. Meperidine and normeperidine cross the placenta very rapidly and may cause respiratory depression and lower psychophysiologic test scores in newborns if it is administered to the mother shortly before delivery. Infants of chronic users may experience withdrawal. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Meperidine should only be given during pregnancy if clearly needed.

Meperidine is excreted into human milk. One study has reported an increased incidence of apneic events in breast-fed infants whose mothers take opiates (including meperidine) while nursing. The American Academy of Pediatrics has no position on the use of meperidine during breast-feeding but considers morphine and other narcotics to be compatible with breast-feeding.

One study has reported that normeperidine levels are persistently elevated in breast milk. The elevation in metabolite levels has been suggested as an explanation for the fact that neonates whose mothers are treated with meperidine exhibit greater neurobehavioral depression than neonates whose mothers are treated with morphine. One report on concentrations in breast milk of medications used during general anesthesia has stated that meperidine was present in both milk and blood during the recovery period but not at 24 hours. This report stated that infant exposure indices ranged from 1.2% to 3.5% for meperidine. Therefore, the authors concluded that the amount of meperidine excreted into breast milk when used for general anesthesia does not warrant interruption in breast-feeding.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Patients receiving MAO inhibitors.
• Known hypersensitivity to meperidine or any ingredient in the respective formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
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.

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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 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.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an as needed basis.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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