Demerol® (meperidine hydrochloride, USP) Tablets are an opioid pain medication.
Demerol Tablets are a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine.
Demerol Tablets are used to treat severe-to-moderate pain.
Demerol Tablets should be used only to treat acute pain. It should not be used to treat chronic pain.
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Demerol® (meperidine hydrochloride, USP) Tablets
Demerol® (meperidine hydrochloride, USP) Tablets are an opioid pain medication. Demerol is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain.
Demerol Tablets are a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine.
You should not take Demerol Tablets if you are allergic to it.
You should not use Demerol Tablets if you have used an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) in the last 14 days. Common MAOI’s are Furoxone (furazolidone), Nardil (phenelzine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Eldepryl , Emsam and Zelapar (selegiline), or Parnate (tranylcypromine). A DANGEROUS DRUG INTERACTION COULD OCCUR, LEADING TO SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS.
You should also not take Demerol Tablets if you have severe asthma or breathing problems.
DEMEROL TABLETS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO TREAT CHRONIC PAIN. IT SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO TREAT TO TREAT ACUTE PAIN. PROLONGED USE CAN CAUSE SEIZURES.
DEMEROL TABLETS ARE A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. IT CAN BE ABUSED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO MORPHINE OR OTHER OPIOIDS. DEMEROL TABLETS ARE THE TYPE OF DRUG THAT IS SOUGHT BY DRUG ABUSERS AND PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION DISORDERS.
DEMEROL TABLETS CAN BE ABUSED BY CRUSHING, CHEWING, SNORTING, OR INJECTING. THESE PRACTICES CAN LEAD TO OVERDOSE OR DEATH.
Interactions with Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse
Using Demerol Tablets with alcohol, other opioids, or illicit drugs can decrease your breathing and heart rate and cause you to lose consciousness, possibly leading to death.
Head Injury and Increased Intercranial Pressure
If you have a head injury, Demerol Tablets can increase the pressure in your head. Your doctor will only prescribe it if it is essential.
Respiratory Conditions
If you have any respiratory conditions such as acute asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions, Demerol Tablets can close off your airway.
Hypotensive Effect
Demerol Tablets can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. You doctor should monitor your blood pressure closely if you are taking Demerol Tablets.
Usage in Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery
You should not use Demerol Tablets if you are pregnant. It could harm your unborn child. It should not be used during labor and delivery, as it can cause your baby to stop breathing.
Nursing Mothers
Demerol Tablets pass into the milk of nursing mothers. Because this can seriously harm nursing infants, a decision will need to be made whether to stop nursing or stop taking the drug.
DEMEROL TABLETS USE SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR PATIENTS WHERE THE BENEFITS OF TAKING THE DRUG OUTWEIGH THE POTENTIAL HARM.
Other Precautions:
Demerol Tablets should be used with caution if you have any of the following conditions:
CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS MAY BE MORE SENSITIVE TO DEMEROL TABLETS. SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN CHILDREN AND ELDERLY PATIENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED
INFORMATION YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHEN TAKING DEMEROL TABLETS:
DEMEROL TABLETS ARE USUALLY ONLY USED FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. REPEATED OR HIGH DOSES MAY CAUSED DRUG LEVELS TO BUILD UP IN YOUR BODY AND CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDING SEIZURES.
Demerol Tablets may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires mental alertness while taking Demerol Tablets.
Demerol Tablets have the potential to produce tolerance and drug dependence. Physical dependence will result in withdrawal symptoms after abrupt discontinuation.
DEMEROL TABLETS CONTAIN A MORPHINE-LIKE SUBSTANCE. DEMEROL TABLETS CAN BE ABUSED AND ARE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL DIVERSION.
DEMEROL TABLETS MAY BE HABIT-FORMING AND SHOULD BE USED ONLY BY THE PERSON FOR WHOM IT WAS PRESCRIBED. KEEP THE MEDICINE IN A SECURE PLACE WHERE OTHERS CANNOT GET TO IT.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE YOU ARE TAKING DEMEROL TABLETS. DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OR DEATH CAN OCCUR. CHECK YOUR FOOD AND MEDICINE LEVELS TO BE SURE THOSE PRODUCTS DO NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL.
NEVER TAKE DEMEROL TABLETS IN LARGER AMOUNTS OR FOR LONGER THAN RECOMMENDED BY YOUR DOCTOR OR YOU COULD HAVE SERIOUS LIFE-THREATENING SIDE EFFECTS. TELL YOUR DOCTOR IF THE MEDICINE STOPS WORKING IN RELIEVING YOUR PAIN.
To make sure that you can safely take Demerol Tablets, tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
Your doctor will prescribe Demerol Tablets with caution if you:
DEMEROL TABLETS CONTAIN A MORPHINE-LIKE SUBSTANCE . DEMEROL TABLETS CAN BE ABUSED AND ARE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL DIVERSION.
DEMEROL TABLETS MAY BE HABIT-FORMING AND SHOULD BE USED ONLY BY THE PERSON IT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR. KEEP THE MEDICINE IN A SECURE PLACE WHERE OTHERS CANNOT GET TO IT.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE YOU ARE TAKING DEMEROL TABLETS. DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OR DEATH CAN OCCUR. CHECK YOUR FOOD AND MEDICINE LEVELS TO BE SURE THOSE PRODUCTS DO NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL.
NEVER TAKE DEMEROL TABLETS IN LARGER AMOUNTS OR FOR LONGER THAN RECOMMENDED BY YOUR DOCTOR OR YOU COULD HAVE SERIOUS LIFE-THREATENING SIDE EFFECTS. TELL YOUR DOCTOR IF THE MEDICINE STOPS WORKING AS WELL IN RELIEVING YOUR PAIN.
Drug interactions may change how your medicines work or increase your risk for serious side effects. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medications without your doctor’s approval.
Do not take Demerol Tablets with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing.
Some products that may interact with Demerol Tablets include:
Taking MAO Inhibitors with Demerol Tablets may cause a serious and possibly fatal drug interaction.
Get immediate emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, severe dizziness, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
Less serious side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC at 1-866-982-5348 (1-886-9VALIDUS).
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of Demerol Tablets 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.
Overdose treatments include ventilating of the airway, administering drugs that reverse the effect of Demerol Tablets, providing oxygen, and other supportive measures, such as stomach pumping.