Generic name:meperidine [ me-PER-i-deen ]
Drug class:Narcotic analgesics
What is Demerol?
Demerol is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Demerol is a strong prescription pain medicine that is used to manage the relief short-term pain, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
Careless use of Demerol can put you at risk of overdose and death. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death.
Warnings
You should not use Demerol if you have severe asthma or breathing problems.
Do not use Demerol if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.
Demerol can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming. MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.
Using this medicine during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Fatal side effects can occur if you use Demerol with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Before using this medicine
You should not use Demerol if you are allergic to meperidine, or if you have:
severe asthma or breathing problems; or
a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
Do not use Demerol if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitor...
