Demerol Dosage

Generic name: meperidine
Drug class: Narcotic analgesics

Medically reviewed by  A Ras MD.

Recommended Adult Dosing

Dosage forms:  TAB: 50 mg, 100 mg; INJ (pre-filled syringe): 25 mg per mL, 50 mg per mL, 75 mg per mL, 100 mg per mL; INJ (vial): various

Dosage Forms Discontinued in US

[oral solution not avail. as brand; see generic]

Pain, mod-severe

[50-150 mg PO/SC/IM/IV q3-4h prn]

Max: 600 mg/day; Info: parenteral route preferred to PO route; decr. dose if given IV, dilute prior to use, admin. slowly; use lowest effective dose, shortest effective tx duration; incr. risk of excitatory neurotoxicity, seizure if dose >600 mg/24h SC/IM/IV or duration >48h; use lower doses in elderly pts; taper total daily dose by no more than 10-25% q2-4wk to D/C if prolonged or long-term use

Preoperative sedation

[50-100 mg SC/IM x1]

Start: 30-90min before anesthesia; Info: use lower doses in elderly pts

Analgesia, obstetric

[50-100 mg SC/IM q1-3h prn]

Info: use lowest effective dose, shortest effective tx duration

Shivering, postop

[12.5-50 mg IV x1]

Alt: 0.4-0.5 mg/kg/dose IV x1; Info: use lower doses in elderly pts

Renal dosing

[pain or analgesia]

renal impairment: avoid use

HD/PD: avoid use

[preoperative sedation]

renal impairment: avoid use; Alt: CrCl 10-50: decr. usual dose by 25%; CrCl <10: decr. usual dose by 50%; Info: incr. risk of neurotoxic metabolite accumulation w/ repeat dosing

HD/PD: avoid use

[shivering]

renal impairment: not defined, caution advised

HD/PD: not defined, caution advised

Hepatic dosing

[not defined]

hepatic impairment: titrate slowly

 Recommended Peds Dosing

Dosage forms:  TAB: 50 mg, 100 mg; INJ (pre-filled syringe): 25 mg per mL, 50 mg per mL, 75 mg per mL, 100 mg per mL; INJ (vial): various

Dosage Forms Discontinued in US

[oral solution not avail. as brand; see generic]

Special Note

[prescribing info]

Info: consider prescribing naloxone if risk of opioid overdose or accidental ingestion

Pain, mod-severe

[1.1-1.8 mg/kg/dose PO/SC/IM/IV q3-4h prn]

Max: 100 mg/dose; Info: parenteral route preferred to PO route; decr. dose if given IV, dilute prior to use, admin. slowly; use lowest effective dose, shortest effective tx duration; incr. risk of excitatory neurotoxicity, seizure if dose >600 mg/24h SC/IM/IV or duration >48h; taper total daily dose by no more than 10-25% q2-4wk to D/C if prolonged or long-term use

Preoperative sedation

[1-2.2 mg/kg/dose SC/IM x1]

Start: 30-90min before anesthesia; Max: 100 mg/dose

Renal dosing

[pain]

renal impairment: avoid use

HD/PD: avoid use

[preoperative sedation]

renal impairment: avoid use; Alt: CrCl 10-50: decr. usual dose by 25%; CrCl <10: decr. usual dose by 50%; Info: incr. risk of neurotoxic metabolite accumulation w/ repeat dosing

HD/PD: avoid use

Hepatic dosing

[not defined]

hepatic impairment: titrate slowly

SRC: NLM .