Meperidine

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate January 2002

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Meperidine Meperidine is a synthetic narcotic analgesic drug, also known as a painkiller. It is a synthetic analgesic unrelated to morphine, but similar in effect. It can be very addictive. It has many different names, such as Demerol, Mepergan, and Pethadol. Its proper name is Meperide hydrochloride. It is composed of ethyl 1-methyl-4-phenylisonipectolate hydrochloride. Meperidine is a white crystalline substance with a boiling point of 186* c. to 189*c. It is not a natural opiate but a synthetic compound belonging to the phenylpeperidine class. The FDA first approved it in 1942 with much controversy because of its side effects from the opium inside of the drug.

Meperidine may cause nausea, vomiting, and euphoria. It is also likely to cause psychological and physical dependence if it is used indiscriminately. If you have an overdose of meperidine, you could have convulsions, difficulty in breathing, low blood pressure, and even go into a coma.

There are some good things that come out of this drug.

Meperidine can be used in early stages or the second phase of labor. It may be injected to lessen the pain of contractions. In addition it relieves severe pain after major operations and occasionally for terminal illness patients. Meperidine is sometimes given to patients with HIV to help with the pain. It's used almost exclusively to hospitals for a pre-medication before an operation as well as for relaxation or sedation.

Meperidine can be administered through oral intake, intramuscularly, intravenous, and subcutaneous. As I have mentioned before, it can be injected into the body directly through a syringe. Most patients prefer to take it orally with a pill of some sort.

Many doctors are against the use of meperidine for many different reasons. The first disadvantage of Meperidine is a short duration of action of only 2 to...