Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum: 

The actions of meperidine include: 

• Pain relief: meperidine is effective at relieving both acute and chronic pain. 
• Sedation: meperidine can cause drowsiness and sedation, which can be useful in treating anxiety and insomnia. 
• Euphoria: meperidine can produce feelings of euphoria, which can lead to abuse and addiction. 
• Respiratory depression: meperidine can slow down breathing, which can be dangerous if taken in large doses. 
• Gastrointestinal effects: meperidine can cause constipation, nausea, and vomiting. 

The spectrum of meperidine’s effects can vary depending on the dose, route of administration, and individual factors such as age, weight, and medical history. meperidine can produce a range of effects, including pain relief, sedation, euphoria, and respiratory depression. It is important to use meperidine only as prescribed by a healthcare provider and to monitor for signs of abuse, addiction, and respiratory depression. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency Not Defined  

Bradycardia  

Angina  

Cardiac arrest  

Constipation  

Coma  

Agitation  

Dizziness  

Dysphoria  

Dry mouth  

Euphoria  

Hypotension  

Faintness

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning: 

The black box warning for meperidine is related to the potential for serious and life-threatening adverse reactions, particularly when it is used in high doses or for long periods of time. 

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Some of the contraindications of meperidine include: 

• Allergy: If you are allergic to meperidine or any other narcotic analgesics, you should not take meperidine. 
• Respiratory depression: meperidine can cause respiratory depression, which is a decrease in breathing rate. Therefore, it is contraindicated in patients with severe respiratory depression. 
• Bowel obstruction: meperidine should not be used in patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction. 
• Severe liver disease: meperidine is metabolized in the liver, so it should not be used in patients with severe liver disease. 
• MAO inhibitors: meperidine should not be used with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, as it can cause serotonin syndrome. 

Some of the precautions or cautions that should be taken while using meperidine include: 

• Elderly patients: Elderly patients are more susceptible to the side effects of meperidine, such as confusion, dizziness, and sedation. 
• Renal impairment: meperidine should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment, as it can accumulate in the body and cause toxic effects. 
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: meperidine should be used with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding women, as it can pass into breast milk and harm the baby. 
• Drug interactions: meperidine can interact with other medications, such as benzodiazepines, and cause respiratory depression. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy warnings:     

AU TGA pregnancy category: C 

US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned 

Lactation: Excreted into human milk is known 

Pregnancy Categories:         

Category A: Studies that were well-controlled and met expectations revealed no risk to the fetus in either the first or second trimester. 

Category B: There were lack of studies on pregnant women and no evidence of risk to the foetus in animal experiments.   

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.    

Category D: adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.   

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.    

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category

Pharmacology

Pharmacology:  

meperidine, also known as pethidine, is a synthetic opioid analgesic medication that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Its pharmacological properties include: 

Pharmacodynamics: 

Mechanism of action:  

meperidine acts as an agonist at the mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce analgesia. It also has some affinity for the delta-opioid and kappa-opioid receptors.  

Pharmacokinetics: 

Absorption  

When taken orally, the drug is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with peak plasma concentrations occurring within 30-60 minutes.   

Distribution  

meperidine has a moderate volume of distribution and binds to plasma proteins (mainly albumin) at a rate of approximately 60%.   

Metabolism  

meperidine is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 system, primarily CYP3A4 and CYP2B6.   

Elimination and Excretion  

meperidine and its metabolites are primarily eliminated through the kidneys via urine. The elimination of half-life of meperidine is relatively short, ranging from 2-5 hours in healthy individuals.

Adminstartion

Administration:  

meperidine is usually administered as an injection into a muscle, under the skin, or into a vein by a healthcare provider. The dosage and frequency of administration will depend on the individual patient’s needs and medical condition. 

It is important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for using meperidine, as it can be habit-forming and may lead to addiction or overdose if not used properly. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: meperidine 

Why do we use meperidine? 

Meperidine is used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It is an opioid analgesic that works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system, which can help to reduce the sensation of pain.