MEPERIDINE

(me For i deen) Brand: Demerol HCl

What is the most significant information I must know about meperidine?

• Meperidine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the face it was predesigned for. Hold the medicine in a secure seat where others can't 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 medication. Check your food and medication labels to be certain these commodity 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. Speak your doctor if the medication seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery before 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 is meperidine?

• Meperidine is an opioid pain medicine. 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 medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking meperidine?

• You must 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 recent 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

• To create certain you can safely take meperidine, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or another breathing disorders;

· liver or kidney disease;

· underactive thyroid;

· curvature of the spine;

· a history of head injury or brain tumor;

· epilepsy or another seizure disorder;

· low blood pressure;

· gallbladder disease;

· sickle cell anemia;

· pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland), Addison's malady, or another adrenal gland disorders;

· enlarged prostate, urination problems;

· mental diseases;

· a history of drug or alcohol addiction; or

· if you recently drank big amounts of alcohol.

• Meperidine may be habit forming and must be used only by the face it was predesigned for. Never share meperidine with other face, especially somebody with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Hold the medicine in a seat where others can't get to it.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether meperidine will harm an unborn child. Speak 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 child. You must not breast-feed while you are using meperidine.

• Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medication.

How must I take meperidine?

• Take exactly as predesigned. Never take meperidine in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor, or you could have serious or life-threatening side effects. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Speak your doctor if the medication seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

• Take this medication with a full glass of water.

• Take meperidine with food or milk if it causes stomach upset.

• Measure liquid medication with a particular doze measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a doze measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• 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.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

• Hold track of the amount of medication used from every new bottle. Meperidine is a drug of abuse and you must be aware if anyone is using your medication improperly or without a prescription.

• After you have stopped using this medicine, flush any unused pills down the toilet.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Since meperidine is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medicine regularly, take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of meperidine can be fatal.

• Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, cool and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, slow heart course, fainting, or coma.

What must I avoid while taking meperidine?

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using meperidine. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with meperidine. Check your food and medication labels to be certain these commodity do not contain alcohol.

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery before you know how meperidine will affect you.

What are the possible side effects of meperidine?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· weak or shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;

· severe drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out;

· seizure (convulsions);

· cool, clammy skin;

· muscle movements you can't control;

· confusion, mood changes;

· severe weakness or dizziness; or

· agitation, hallucinations, fever, quick heart course, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting;

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· constipation;

· loss of appetite;

· headache, dizziness, mild weakness;

· dry mouth;

· sweating;

· itching;

· urinating smaller than normal; or

· loss of interest in sex.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect meperidine?

• Do not take meperidine with another narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or another medicines that can create you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· phenytoin (Dilantin);

· pentazocine (Talwin);

· nalbuphine (Nubain);

· butorphanol (Stadol); or

· buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with meperidine. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about meperidine.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.