Demerol Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Demerol may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Demerol - for the Consumer

Demerol

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Demerol:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; nausea; sweating; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; difficulty urinating; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or a leg; seizure; severe or persistent dizziness; slowed or difficult breathing; sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; tremor; vision changes.

Demerol Syrup

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Demerol Syrup:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; nausea; sweating; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; difficulty urinating; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or a leg; seizure; severe or persistent dizziness; slowed or difficult breathing; sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; tremor; vision changes.

Demerol Tablets

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Demerol Tablets:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; nausea; sweating; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; difficulty urinating; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or a leg; seizure; severe or persistent dizziness; slowed or difficult breathing; sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; tremor; vision changes.

Demerol Side Effects - for the Professional

Demerol

The major hazards of meperidine, as with other narcotic analgesics, are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, circulatory depression; respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest have occurred.

The most frequently observed adverse reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not experiencing severe pain. In such individuals, lower doses are advisable. Some adverse reactions in ambulatory patients may be alleviated if the patient lies down.

Other adverse reactions include:

Nervous System: Euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, agitation, tremor, uncoordinated muscle movements (e.g. muscle twitches, myoclonus), severe convulsions, transient hallucinations and disorientation, visual disturbances.

Gastrointestinal: Dry mouth, constipation, biliary tract spasm.

Cardiovascular: Flushing of the face, tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitation, hypotension, syncope.

Genitourinary: Urinary retention.

Allergic: Pruritus, urticaria, other skin rashes, wheal and flare over the vein with intravenous injection. Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis.

Demerol Injection

The major hazards of meperidine, as with other narcotic analgesics, are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, circulatory depression; respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest have occurred.

The most frequently observed adverse reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not experiencing severe pain. In such individuals, lower doses are advisable. Some adverse reactions in ambulatory patients may be alleviated if the patient lies down.

Other adverse reactions include:

Nervous System. Euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, agitation, tremor, uncoordinated muscle movements, severe convulsions, transient hallucinations and disorientation, visual disturbances. Inadvertent injection about a nerve trunk may result in sensory-motor paralysis which is usually, though not always, transitory.

Gastrointestinal. Dry mouth, constipation, biliary tract spasm.

Cardiovascular. Flushing of the face, tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitation, hypotension, syncope, phlebitis following intravenous injection.

Genitourinary. Urinary retention.

Allergic. Pruritus, urticaria, other skin rashes, wheal and flare over the vein with intravenous injection.

Other. Pain at injection site; local tissue irritation and induration following subcutaneous injection, particularly when repeated; antidiuretic effect.

Side Effects by Body System

Nervous system

Central nervous system side effects include sleepiness, respiratory depression, delirium, seizures, tremors, dizziness, visual disturbances, muscle twitches, dilated pupils, and Parkinsonian symptoms. A case of seizures has been reported in a patient with porphyria. A case of transient neurological symptoms has been reported after use of subarachnoid meperidine.

Central nervous system side effects may be either depressant or excitatory. Excitatory symptoms are sometimes ignored as possible side effects of meperidine, but may be due to the accumulation of a metabolite, normeperidine. Accumulation of normeperidine occurs more frequently in patients with renal insufficiency and in patients who are receiving meperidine via a patient-controlled analgesia pump.

Severe adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, may be treated with the opiate antagonist, naloxone.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects include fearfulness, agitation, paranoia, hypervigilance, and auditory and visual hallucinations.

Psychological dependence on meperidine may develop.

Gastrointestinal

Meperidine may cause contraction of the sphincter of Oddi, thereby increasing intrabiliary pressure. As a result, meperidine may aggravate rather than relieve biliary colic.

Constipation is less common with meperidine than some other narcotics.

Gastrointestinal side effects including increased gastroesophageal reflux, increased biliary pressure, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting have been reported.

Other

Other side effects including an opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome has been reported.

The opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome is characterized by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis. Other symptoms also may also develop, including: irritability, anxiety, backache, joint pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, or increased blood pressure, respiratory rate, or heart rate.

Respiratory

There are case reports of bronchospasm occurring in patients with a history of asthma after receiving meperidine. Because of this effect and possible respiratory depression, meperidine should be used with caution in patients with severe reactive or obstructive pulmonary disease.

Respiratory side effects including bronchospasm have been reported in patients with underlying pulmonary disease.

Cardiovascular

Hypotension occurs most commonly in patients who are under anesthesia, who are dehydrated, and who are receiving other medications.

Cardiovascular side effects including phlebitis have been reported. Hypotension has been reported rarely.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including urinary retention have been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including rash and sweating have been reported.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including a case of meperidine-induced muscular rigidity have been reported.

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