meperidine vs rasagiline
Side-by-side comparison of meperidine and rasagiline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Meperidine: Risk of serotonin syndrome (4, 7.1) Dextromethorphan: Risk of psychosis or bizarre behavior (4, 7.2) MAO inhibitors: Risk of non-selective MAO inhibition and hypertensive crisis (4, 7.3) 7.1 Meperidine Serious, sometimes fatal reactions have been precipitated with concomitant use of meperidine (e.g., Demerol and other tradenames) and MAO inhibitors including selective MAO-B inhibitors [see Contraindications (4)] .
Recommendation: Do not take these two medications together. Talk to your doctor about safer pain relief options that do not interact with your other medicine.
Demerol
Azilect
Meperidine is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe, acute pain when other pain medicines are not strong enough.
Rasagiline (Azilect) is a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. It helps to improve motor control and reduce symptoms like tremors and stiffness.
Meperidine is used to manage acute pain that is severe enough to need an opioid pain medicine. It is for use when other treatments do not work well enough. Meperidine should not be used for chronic, long-lasting pain. Taking meperidine for a long time may increase the risk of seizures.
Rasagiline is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects movement. This medicine can be used alone or with other Parkinson's medicines to help control your symptoms.
Meperidine is an opioid agonist. It works by binding to receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This reduces the feeling of pain.
Rasagiline belongs to a class of drugs called MAO-B inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help to control movement and reduce Parkinson's symptoms.
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Sleepiness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Flu-like symptoms
- • Joint pain
- • Depression
- • Indigestion
- • Swelling in the arms or legs
- Allergic reaction to the drug 3,248
- Pain 1,250
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,133
- Excessive sweating 821
- Skin rash 775
- Falling 343
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there 326
- Uncontrolled movements 276
- Parkinson's disease 216
- Feeling lightheaded 205
Meperidine has a boxed warning. This means it has serious risks. These risks include: Medication errors that can cause overdose, addiction, abuse, and misuse, life-threatening respiratory depression, accidental ingestion (especially by children) can cause a fatal overdose, dangerous effects when taken with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Make sure you read the Medication Guide.
Rasagiline can cause high blood pressure. It can also cause serotonin syndrome, a serious condition, especially when taken with antidepressants. You may fall asleep suddenly or feel very drowsy. Rasagiline can also cause or worsen uncontrolled movements, hallucinations, and compulsive behaviors. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these side effects.
Taking meperidine for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Meperidine is not recommended during or right before labor because it can cause breathing problems in the baby.
It is not known if rasagiline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if rasagiline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This meperidine vs rasagiline Comparison
meperidine is classified in the Opioid Analgesic drug class, while rasagiline sits within the MAO-B Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, meperidine has 7,227 submissions while rasagiline has 1,366. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to combining these medications can cause a life-threatening reaction called serotonin syndrome, where a brain chemical reaches dangerously high levels. this can lead to serious or even fatal health problems.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between meperidine and rasagiline - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.