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Meperidine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Demerol, Meperitab

Meperidine has an average rating of 9.4 out of 10 from a total of 99 reviews on Drugs.com. 96% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 2% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Meperidine

  • Xcros...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 4, 2013

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "This medicine is sadly being used less and less in the emergency rooms. I am tolerant to morphine and allergic to many other pain medications. Demerol not only stops the pain but it stops it for a good 14-16 hours if I am given 100 mg IM with 50 mg Gravol. I walk out of the ER on my own like I took a Tylenol. Takes a few hours to kick in but when it does I usually get the best 10-12 hours of sleep which helps decrease the pain since I can rest and let my muscles be at rest. I pray they do not discontinue this medicine. It helps many people for break through pain where others don't, especially for use people with CRPS and Fibromyalgia. It's a miracle medicine for me. I use this about 3 to 4 times a year if needed for breakthrough pain lasting more than 72 hours."

10 / 10
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  • ChocB...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 27, 2013

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I have arthritis and have tried many over the counter medicines as Aspirin, Motrin, etc. These medicines increased my diastolic blood pressure upwards of 30 points. (I already have high blood pressure). The doctor then tried Oxycodone and again my BP went significantly up. Hydrocodone had the same result. As a last resort for a pain med I was given Demerol (50MG). No increase in BP and no side effects. It takes upwards of two hours to kick in but does a good job of numbing pain. Apparently I am sensitive to all NSAIDS. (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications). "

8 / 10
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95 Report
  • Sue
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 9, 2019

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I am a rare breed of a human being! I have so many allergic reactions to medication most antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication and even worse most pain medication. This medication I can take. I have several chronic conditions RSD/CRPS , fibromyalgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, migraines, anxiety, and insomnia. I take several different medications. I go to pain management clinic. I have recently had to change my pain medication. Only other one they have found I can take. They changed because my pharmacist can no longer get Demerol 50mg tablets. It kept my pain under control. I want it back. The trigeminal neuralgia has been worse ever since I started the new stuff ! Please help me to get relief with Demerol, or Meperidine. Where can I get it !"

10 / 10
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49 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Chaz
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 6, 2019

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "Years ago when I suffered from debilitating migraines I was given 50 mg tablets of Demerol. I took one every few weeks/days as needed. Never needed more than 2 or 3 in a month. After I stopped taking birth control pills the migraines stopped. Recently when I broke my foot I was given Tramadol. This stuff had me on all fours heaving up my toenails til morning. Doctors told me they are exactly the same. This is not true. Since then I've had a dislocated jaw, and found out that hydro- anything has me heaving and dizzy. Why did they have to take away a perfectly effective medicine and what is this garbage that just makes me sick? Bring back Demerol."

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39 Report
  • Donna...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 4, 2014

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "The last 4 weeks of my pregnancy, I began suffering severe gall bladder issues. After birth, I tried to tough it out, due to nursing. Ten weeks later (14 weeks on) I was in pain unlike anything I'd ever known! A stone had passed out of my gall bladder into the common duct shared with the pancreas, and had lodged in my pancreas - I was also suffering severe pancreatitis. AGONY would've been a blessing. After trying numerous medicines that didn't touch the pain, I was given Demoral. OH! MY! GAWD! I was in tears, because for the first time in months, I didn't feel like I was on Death's door. I'd forgotten what it meant to be pain - free! Every few hours, beautiful nurses came, and "topped me off". My "con"? For the first 20 minutes, I couldn't shut up!"

10 / 10
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65 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Dr Fe...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 8, 2016

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "For those of you having trouble finding Demerol or any other hard to find analgesics, or any medication for that matter, forget big chains. Try going to the closest hospital pharmacy. They tend to carry things that other pharmacies do not. They also are able to more order things much easier because as a hospital, they must have these things available for people with allergies, etc. I wish the FDA/DEA would realize how harmful NSAIDs (especially ibuprofen) can be, and that everyone is different. What works for one may have horrible side effects for another. When taken responsibly narcotic analgesics are less harmful to the body, and this is a subject that i have researched extensively. For now, try bringing ur scrip to the hospital pharmacy!"

10 / 10
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50 Report
  • mooshoo
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 17, 2014

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I had ruptured disks in my spine due to an ongoing issue I was having. I cannot take morphine because it does not react well with me. My doctor gave me 100 mg. 2X a day and for once in my life I didn't want to die anymore because I was in so much pain. I had tried everything Tylenol to oxycontin. Nothing even touched it. So I was very pleased and relieved when I found something that worked. And I can even move around with less pain."

10 / 10
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55 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 7, 2012

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I had a blood clot in my left lung. The pain, which morphine wouldn't even come close to touching, was unbearable. Every time I took a breath I would get a sharp stabbing pain. For 3 days I sat in a the chair in my hospital room because I couldn't lay back or put pressure on my back because of the pain. Then one night it got so bad that The nurse called my doctor and was able to give me a shot of Demerol. Needless to say that was the first night I actually slept and pretty comfortably I might add. Within 2 min of the shot the pain was completly gone and I could breath again."

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63 Report
  • Jen
  • September 2, 2010

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I have been suffering for years with my lower back and degeneration disease in lower back. I have been on everything imaginable from Lortabs to Roxicodone. Today I was given 100mg Demerol along with Lortab 10's. I feel like I'm living now instead of just existing!"

10 / 10
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67 Report
  • Anonymous
  • March 7, 2012

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I went into the hospital over the weekend for a pancreas attack. Nothing can be done for you other than pain management. I was given Demerol via IV and had the best sleep of my life that entire weekend. It was almost like a great vacation. It went in the IV, I said bye bye, and fell asleep for hours with no pain. I loved it, no withdrawal symptoms, no side effects. "

10 / 10
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58 Report
  • robin
  • May 6, 2008

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "After a fall and suffering a slow decline into osteoarthritis of the right hip, I had been managing pain with Vicodin for the last two years before I went for total joint replacement. Maybe I had built up a tolerance because after surgery, my pain was mind-boggling until it vanished "just like that". I asked the nurse what she just gave me and she said she tried a little Demerol via I.V. Amazing stuff when morphine didn't do it for me!!"

10 / 10
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66 Report
  • Drugs...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 6, 2015

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "Demerol provides very clean pain relief. It simply turns off the pain like a switch. I felt no euphoria, numbness, thickening or noticeable impairment. It is highly restricted and after the critical period the medication was switched to something less addictive yet far less effective and carrying unwanted baggage. "

10 / 10
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42 Report
  • Willie...
  • August 4, 2009

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "As Percocet was not helping my back pain anymore my Doctor switched me to Demerol 100mg. Now my back pain is once again under control and I am only taking two pills a day instead of 6-8 Percocets. I have had no negative side effects as of yet. This is by far the most relief I've had in years. I've been on Vicodin, Percocet, MS Contin, naproxen, Norco 10mg and I've never had total relief until now. "

8 / 10
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56 Report
  • Sparky
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • July 26, 2020

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I had migraine from time I was 18 yo. I would have to go to dr. office to get a shot as I had to work. About 1984 my dr. give me the 50 mg. Meperidine tabs. I controlled my migraines by using half a pill when needed. Most times a months prescription lasted me four to six months. I never got dizzy or anything when taking it. I did use phenagen for nausea. I am allergic to morphine, codeine, imatrex and a variety of other meds including antibiotic s. Allergies occurred in hospitals. My neurologist has no problem prescribing it for me but I can't find any place to fill it so for six months I have had to put up with horrible headaches. VA pharmacy has it but my neurologist isn't in the Optum system for prescription, only medical part, so they won't fill it. The latest VA give me, Topamax. It don't help, it only messes my INR up for my warfarin. Even my PA has stated I don't abuse drugs. But she can't prescribe it and the dr. won't. Demeral is only pain med I have not had reaction to. Now what?"

10 / 10
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19 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 20, 2009

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I was also told I was "Demerol specific" by a wonderful pain doctor. There is a small subset of folks who are Demerol specific. Usually Darvon works well on them too. I wish I were not Demerol specific. It is being pullled from all the ER's. Too many doctors even want the Demerol pills to be discontinued. Sad."

10 / 10
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53 Report
  • Anonymous
  • September 17, 2009

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I've been on pain therapy for two years with a cracked disc in my neck and two bulging discs also in my neck. They have caused loss of function in my right arm and severe migraines and back pain. We started with Vicodin and then moved to Percocet. I have built up a tolerance and never received total relief so my doctor put me on Demerol last week. I have to say the pain relief it gives me is great but the doctor told me to stop the Percocet completely. I think I should have tapered down first because I have had withdrawal symptoms for several days (night sweats, insomnia, etc) Demerol is great but if you've been on long term pain medicine, when you switch make sure you discuss with your doctor the side effects of transitioning from one medicine to another."

8 / 10
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50 Report
  • Ronst...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 15, 2020

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "It was around 1999 driving to the airport starting to feel a mild pain in my stomach. Another couple miles and I had to pull over I was grabbing my gut. I remember sprawling on the side of the road in agony as my wife is trying to understand what was happening. We made it to the hospital a few blocks away I remember laying in fetal position in bathroom moaning like sick a cow. Eventually they looked at me and figured out I had a kidney stone and shot me with 75 mg of Demerol. From worst pain in my life to utter bliss instantly. I'll never forget you my beautiful Demerol."

10 / 10
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19 Report
  • frank...
  • March 1, 2009

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "Used this for spinal pain, three black discs lumbar with contact to spinal column sciatica, thoracic protrusions, two severe spinal sprains to mid back, and three cervical discs contact spinal column and neck problems. This medicine worked very well for the pain taken four times daily at 50mg, per dose. Had no side effects."

10 / 10
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47 Report
  • lola
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 10, 2013

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I was given this for pain associated with Crohn's disease and for a migraine during a hospital stay. It works great for pain, lasting longer than Dilaudid. Only down side is both times it made me throw up even though I was given anti nausea medication 30 minutes beforehand."

8 / 10
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37 Report
  • kid...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 1, 2018

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I've had kidney stones 4 different times, mainly from being dehydrated. My first visit to the ER was by ambulance where they gave me morphine - it didn't even begin to help with the pain. The morphine left me weirdly stoned and still in intense pain. In the ER they gave me demerol. It was like a miracle had happened - no pain. After that I have always refused morphine and requested demerol."

10 / 10
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23 Report
  • Brick...
  • March 19, 2015

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I suffer from bladder seizures. My doctor put me on demerol in 1997. I take 100mg twice a day. I have tried other meds, such as Percocet, oxycodone but those gave me too many side effects. I'm allergic to codeine. Each month I see my doctor and get a new prescription. I just found out my pharmacy ( Medicine Shop) cannot get it in any size dosage anymore! I tried Walgreens, Walmart and CVS. No one carries it or is willing to try to get it. What's going on? My only alternative is 12-16 Advil a day, every day."

10 / 10
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30 Report
  • wanna...
  • March 1, 2017

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I am allergic to morphine and that is how I ended up taking Demerol.I was born with Sickle Cell Anemia Disease.This causes me to experience extremely painful episodes in my joints which are crippling at times and can last for one to two months.Enough about me can someone just please tell us why they would discontinue the most helpful and healing medication ever invented."

10 / 10
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25 Report
  • glgl
  • July 1, 2016

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "Dulls pain from Fibromyalgia including bad headache, lower back and lower neck pain. Only problem is that BIG PHARMA is making it tough to get. They want everyone hooked on NSAIDS and Acetaminophen. The side effects form NSAIDS are far worse than Demerol and similar Opiods. Using NSAIDS or Acetaminophen causes me serious Blood Pressure increases taking me well in to the danger zone. Demerol not only has no side effects, at least for me, but actually lowers my BO. If forced to take NSAIDS, I would have to take BP meds which for most part I am allergic to. I take Demerol, as a last resort only when actually needed normally < 5mth."

8 / 10
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26 Report
  • Resting...
  • September 9, 2016

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "I had a tubual pregnancy in 1984. Never even had stitches in my life before that. There was alot of pain. I was so thankful for demerol , believe me ! The nurse gave injection around hip ,butt area and it made me so relaxed and out of pain that I could sleep. Thankful for that drug."

10 / 10
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24 Report
  • sick...
  • July 6, 2011

Demerol (meperidine) for Pain "This medication even though only one half absorbed orally was the best pain medicine I have ever used for my Lupus pain. It worked fast and if I was not in Pain in 3-4 hrs. I did not have a hung over effect. I have not taken this medicine in several years because the pain medicines were swapped to Dilaudid for several years. Demerol is not as strong which was great and did not cause constipation."

10 / 10
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35 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.