About meperidine
Opioid pain-relieving medicine
Used for
- Short-term treatment of moderate to severe pain
- Pain relief during childbirth or medical procedures
Usual adult dose
Usually 25–100 mg by injection every 3–4 hours as needed; dose varies by setting.
Usual dose in children
For children over 1 year: usually 0.5–2 mg/kg by injection every 3–4 hours; specialist supervision required.
Common side effects
- Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
- Constipation and difficulty passing urine
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Confusion or dependence with repeated use
Important warnings
- Can cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially with alcohol or sedatives.
- May cause dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.
- Avoid in significant breathing problems or with certain monoamine oxidase inhibitor medicines.
- Repeated doses can cause a harmful metabolite to build up, especially with kidney problems.
Pregnancy
Use only when clinically necessary; use near delivery may affect the newborn’s breathing or cause withdrawal.
Breastfeeding
May make a breastfed infant unusually sleepy or affect breathing; repeated use is generally avoided.
Interactions
- Alcohol, sleeping tablets, benzodiazepines, and other opioids increase sedation and breathing risks.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors can cause serious reactions; avoid during treatment and for 14 days after stopping.
- Some antidepressants increase serotonin-related side effects or seizure risk.
- Medicines affecting liver enzymes may alter pethidine levels or effects.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.