Medication Monday...Demerol...MEPERIDINE HCL

Before we get to the medication I need to remind you...

• that what I am providing is NOT meant in any way to replace the conversation between you, your doctor, or your pharmacist
  
• please do not self-diagnose or make medical decisions about this drug without talking with qualified professionals
  

• the information provided here is the reference sheet you would find at WebMD. During my journey I found this site to be helpful in providing support. All credit for this information belongs to them. I copied it right from their website and I have removed the hyper-links. Please visit their site if you would like to read further.

For this installment, I have chosen Demerol  
GENERIC NAME(S): MEPERIDINE HCL

Uses: This medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Meperidine acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. This medication is a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine.

**Please read this information carefully** 
 If you have any questions about what is provided here....talk with your doctor or pharmacist please.

Demerol GENERIC NAME(S): MEPERIDINE HCL

Uses
This medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Meperidine acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. This medication is a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine.

How to use Demerol
Take this medication by mouth, usually every 3 to 4 hours as needed or as directed by your doctor. You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, you may take this drug with food, although this may cause your body to absorb less of the drug and get less benefit from it. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea (e.g., antihistamines, lying down for 1-2 hours with as little head movement as possible).

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.

You may also take long-acting narcotic medications or use narcotic patches for ongoing pain if so directed by your doctor. In that case, this medication might be used for sudden (breakthrough) pain only as needed. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for safely using non-narcotic pain relievers (e.g., naproxen, ibuprofen). Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, runny nose, watering eyes, trouble sleeping, severe abdominal/muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, and fast heartbeat) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.

Though very unlikely, this medication can also be habit-forming and may result in abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction). To lessen the risk of becoming addicted, do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.

When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.

Inform your doctor if your pain persists or worsens.

Side Effects
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, flushing, sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, and drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If you become constipated while using this drug, consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (e.g., stimulant-type with stool softener).

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: slow/irregular/fast heartbeat, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, hallucinations, nervousness), numbness, shakiness (tremors), severe stomach/abdominal pain, trouble urinating, change in the amount of urine.

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: slow/shallow breathing, fainting, seizures.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

DEMEROL Side Effects List
Demerol side effects by likelihood and severity. The following side effects are associated with Demerol:

Common side effects of Demerol: 
·                                 Temporary Redness of Face and Neck Severe

·                                 Abnormally Low Blood Pressure Less Severe

·                                 Dizzy Less Severe

·                                 Drowsiness Less Severe

·                                 Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe

·                                 Feeling Faint Less Severe

·                                 Feeling Weak Less Severe

·                                 Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe

·                                 Inducing of a Relaxed Easy State Less Severe

·                                 Throwing Up Less Severe

Infrequent side effects of Demerol:
·                                 A Spasm of the Larynx Severe

·                                 Bronchospasm Severe

·                                 Collapsed Portion of Lung Severe

·                                 Confused Severe

·                                 Fast Heartbeat Severe

·                                 Involuntary Muscle Movements Severe

·                                 Seizures Severe

·                                 Significant Decrease in Lung Function Severe

·                                 Slow Heartbeat Severe

·                                 Trouble Breathing Severe

·                                 Vocal Cord Swelling Severe

·                                 Blurred Vision Less Severe

·                                 Cannot Empty Bladder Less Severe

·                                 Double Vision Less Severe

·                                 Dry Mouth Less Severe

·                                 Excessive Sweating Less Severe

·                                 False Sense of Well-Being Less Severe

·                                 Feeling Restless Less Severe

·                                 Feeling Unhappy or Unwell Less Severe

·                                 Head Pain Less Severe

·                                 Heart Throbbing or Pounding Less Severe

·                                 Irritation of the Stomach or Intestines Less Severe

·                                 Nightmares Less Severe

·                                 Problems with Eyesight Less Severe

·                                 Spasm of a Bile Duct Tract Less Severe

·                                 Spasm of the Ureter or Tube Connecting Kidney to Bladder Less Severe

Rare side effects of Demerol:
·                                Complete Stoppage of the Heart Severe

·                                 Fit Severe

·                                 Giant Hives Severe

·                                 Hallucination Severe

·                                 Hives Severe

·                                 Inflammation of Skin caused by an AllergySevere

·                                 Itching Severe

·                                 Life Threatening Allergic Reaction Severe

·                                 Lung Failure causing Loss of Breath Severe

·                                 Problems with Circulation Severe

·                                 Rash Severe

·                                 Reaction due to an Allergy Severe

·                                 Shock Severe

·                                 Delirium Less Severe

·                                 Involuntary Quivering Less Severe

·                                 Twitching Less Severe

Precautions
Before taking meperidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: abdominal problems (e.g., gallbladder disease, pancreatitis), adrenal gland problem (e.g., Addison's disease, pheochromocytoma), large blood loss (e.g., recent blood donation, stomach/intestinal bleeding), brain disorders (e.g., seizures, head injury, tumor, increased intracranial pressure), heart problems (e.g., irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure), kidney disease, liver disease, breathing problems (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, emphysema), mental/mood disorders (e.g., depression, toxic psychosis), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol, sickle cell anemia, stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), a certain spinal problem (kyphoscoliosis), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), trouble urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate or narrowing of the urethra).

Meperidine is usually only used for a short time. Repeated or high doses may cause drug levels to build up in the body and cause serious side effects such as seizures and shaking. Caution is advised if this medication is used for conditions which require long-term or high-dosage treatment (e.g., sickle cell anemia, burns, cancer). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and slow/shallow breathing.

Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially drowsiness.

Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, take the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea.

This drug passes into breast milk and is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: acyclovir, cimetidine, narcotic antagonists (such as naltrexone), certain other pain medications (e.g., narcotic agonist/antagonist such as butorphanol/nalbuphine), phenytoin, ritonavir.

Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.

Also report the use of drugs that might increase seizure risk when combined with meperidine such as isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine), theophylline, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also affect breathing or cause drowsiness. Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as alcohol, medicine for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and other narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine).

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (e.g., amylase, lipase tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow breathing, slow heartbeat, seizure, loss of consciousness.

Notes
Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.

This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case.

Missed Dose
Not applicable.

Storage
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. To discard this medication, the FDA recommends flushing down the toilet or pouring into a drain. However, consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Information last revised October 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.