Meperidine was first synthesized in 1939 in hopes of creating a superior Anticholinergic - a drug that blocks acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Meperidine is an opioid pain medication. It is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain. There is some evidence which suggests that meperidine may produce less smooth muscle spasm, constipation, and depression of the cough reflex than equianalgesic doses of morphine.
Abstract
Meperidine is an opioid pain medication. Meperidine is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain.
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Street Names
demmies
pethidine
Brand Names
Demerol
Mepergan
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History
Meperidine was first synthesized in 1939 in hopes of creating a superior Anticholinergic - a drug that blocks acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Soon after is development, scientists and pharmacologists discovered its ability to treat chronic pain and thus began the long process of marketing a potent new pain killer.
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Pharmacology
Meperidine hydrochloride is a narcotic analgesic with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of morphine; the most prominent of these involve the central nervous system and organs composed of smooth muscle. The principal actions of therapeutic value are analgesia and sedation.
There is some evidence which suggests that meperidine may produce less smooth muscle spasm, constipation, and depression of the cough reflex than equianalgesic doses of morphine. Meperidine is significantly less effective by the oral than by the parenteral route, but the exact ratio of oral to parenteral effectiveness is unknown.
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Uses
Demerol and other Meperidine drugs are most commonly used to treat cases of chronic and severe pain, such as cancer and dental surgeries. Due to its antispasmodic and anesthetic qualities, Meperidine drugs have been rarely used to treat cases of major muscle spasm and even psychosis.
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Scheduling
It is a potent schedule II opioid analgesic drug with an abuse liability similar to morphine and other schedule II opioids.
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Psychological and physical addiction liabilites
The possible are the Psychological and physical addiction liabilites of meperidine:
Hives
Difficulty in breathing
Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
Shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
Feeling light-headed, fainting;
Confusion, fear, unusual thoughts or behavior;
Seizure (convulsions);
Problems with urination; or
Nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Withdrwal Symtoms
Meperidine withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity and may include:
Sweating
Insomnia
Shivering
Shakiness
Diarrhea
Goosebumps
Cravings for hydrocodone
Anxiety
Pain
Nausea
A runny nose.
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Long term effects
One of the long-term effects of meperidine addiction is that characterized by greater dependence on the drug and tolerance to the dosage. Tolerance to a drug means that you must take more and more of the medication to get the same early effect.
After long-term use of oxymorphone, men may also experience a decreased level of testosterone or enlargement of the prostate. Other long-term effects include excessive sweating, swelling in the arms and legs, and chronic constipation.
Because chronic use leads to tolerance and dependence, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if a prescription is reduced or stopped. These withdrawal symptoms can involve signs of central nervous system hyperactivity and will peak 48 to 72 hours after your last dose. Physical symptoms will be eliminated within a week but it may take longer to erase the psychological addiction.
Withdrawal from oxymorphone will begin with anxiety followed by an increased rate of breathing, runny nose, stomach cramps, tearing and sweating. Although withdrawal from oxycodone is distressing it is not fatal.
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Physical Effects
The physical effects of meperidine are as below:
Pain relief
Sedation
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Headache
Constipation
Sweating
Insomnia
Urinary retention
Miosis
Euphoria or dysphoria
Psychological treatment options
The pyschological treatment option for meperidine addiction involve:
Detox at addiction treatment centers, followed by counselling. Rehab centers often help addicted patients to learn to overcome the emotional issues that led them to addiction. Rehab also offers important tips and strategies for achieving relapse prevention. The main aim in the treatment for meperidine addiction is get rid of the symptoms that cause both physical as well psychological effects.
Medical treatment options
The medical options are limited in that case. At times, using drugs that mimic oxymorphone may do the trick. This helps in oxymorphone detox, which will mitigate the pain and discomfort of withdrawal significantly. As medication is limited in combating meperidine addiction, psychological treatment options are often explored more.
Psychological Treatment
The psychological treatment is generally carried out at rehab centers. About 10% of addicted patients have been successfully able to overcome this addiction without the rehab centers. The treatment involved detox followed by followed by counselling. Rehab centers provide guidelines, following which one may find it easy in preventing relapse.
Related Drugs
The drugs that are related to meperidine are:
Opium
Codeine
Heroin
Methadone
Fentanyl
Hydrocodone
Related Synthetics
The related synthetics to meperidine are:
hydrocodone
oxycodone
methadone
References
[1] http://www.drugs.com/mtm/meperidine.html
[2] http://www.enotes.com/meperidine-reference/meperidine-176976
[3] http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682117.html
[4] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11782820
[5] http://www.rxlist.com/demerol-drug.htm
[6] http://www.druglib.com/druginfo/demerol/description_pharmacology/
