What is meperidine?
Meperidine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Meperidine is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain.
Meperidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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. 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.
Never take meperidine in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor, or you could have serious or life-threatening side effects. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how meperidine will affect you.
Do not stop using meperidine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using meperidine.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking meperidine?
You should not use meperidine if you are allergic to it.
Do not use meperidine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
To make sure you can safely take meperidine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
liver or kidney disease;
underactive thyroid;
curvature of the spine;
a history of head injury or brain tumor;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
low blood pressure;
gallbladder disease;
sickle cell anemia;
pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland), Addison's disease, or other adrenal gland disorders;
enlarged prostate, urination problems;
mental illness;
a history of drug or alcohol addiction; or
if you recently drank large amounts of alcohol.
Meperidine may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share meperidine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether meperidine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using meperidine.
Meperidine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using meperidine.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medication.