MID-VOLUME · FEMALE-LED
meperidine Side Effects
meperidine (also sold as Demerol) sits MID-VOLUME #331 of 524 by FAERS report count. Lead signal: FEMALE-LED - 73% of sex-coded reports are female (5,893 F / 2,163 M). Demographics and serious-outcome tables follow.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 8,979
- FAERS reports
FDA Adverse Event Reporting System extract for meperidine. Stamp set WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID. How figures are compiled.
meperidine reporting skew - 73% of sex-coded reports are female (5,893 F / 2,163 M). Volume band MID-VOLUME #331 of 524 by FAERS report count; caseload WATCHLIST.
Mid-book FAERS page for meperidine (Demerol) (8,979 reports). Signature FEMALE-LED. Dominant age band on file: 45-64. Educational reference only.
Counts from the openFDA FAERS extract (2002–2025). Stamps WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · FEMALE-LED.
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY leads 3,249 of 8,979 reports
FEMALE-LED reporters · age peak 45-64
Female-led reporters (73% of sex-coded rows)
Age peak 45-64 (2,513 reports)
FAERS filings rising toward 2025
Reactions in Death Reports
Death-mentioned subset is HEAVY here (724 reports, 8.1%). Top co-reported reactions in that subset - voluntary, not causal.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DEATH | 220 |
| OVERDOSE | 197 |
| PAIN | 191 |
| FATIGUE | 152 |
| PYREXIA | 150 |
| BACK PAIN | 148 |
| HYPERTENSION | 145 |
| CONSTIPATION | 138 |
| HEADACHE | 133 |
| THROMBOCYTOPENIA | 131 |
| HYPERHIDROSIS | 127 |
| FLUID RETENTION | 124 |
| FOETAL DEATH | 123 |
| DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 119 |
| JOINT SWELLING | 118 |
| ASTHMA | 117 |
| HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED | 117 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Hospitalization mid-share (1,753, 19.5%). Co-reported reactions:
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| PAIN | 311 |
| NAUSEA | 274 |
| VOMITING | 257 |
| FATIGUE | 182 |
| ANXIETY | 171 |
| DIZZINESS | 161 |
| PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 158 |
| ABDOMINAL PAIN | 155 |
| DYSPNOEA | 154 |
| MALAISE | 149 |
| DIARRHOEA | 145 |
| ARTHRALGIA | 144 |
| CHEST PAIN | 142 |
| BACK PAIN | 136 |
| FALL | 136 |
| HEADACHE | 129 |
| PNEUMONIA | 124 |
| PYREXIA | 124 |
| INJURY | 121 |
How to read meperidine FAERS figures (WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID)
FAERS holds 8,979 voluntary reports linked to meperidine (Demerol), 2002-2025. Death is listed on 724 (8.1%). Hospitalization appears on 1,753 (19.5%). Top co-reported indication: Product Used For Unknown Indication.
Mid-volume extract - treat DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID as signal-detection rates next to 73% of sex-coded reports are female (5,893 F / 2,163 M).
Read with meperidine
Peers ranked by ABS(total_reports), then an ABS(death_share) pole; guide hop follows DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID stamps.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 9,102 FAERS cases (Δ 123 heavier vs meperidine); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-HEAVY · SEX-BALANCED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · FEMALE-LED.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 9,140 FAERS cases (Δ 161 heavier vs meperidine); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-HEAVY · SEX-BALANCED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · FEMALE-LED.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 8,788 FAERS cases (Δ 191 lighter vs meperidine); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-HEAVY · SEX-BALANCED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · FEMALE-LED.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 8,756 FAERS cases (Δ 223 lighter vs meperidine); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · FEMALE-LED.
ABS(death_share) pole at 62.1% death-mentioned reports (Δ 54.0 pp vs meperidine's DEATH-HEAVY): CASELOAD · HOSP-MID.
meperidine stamps DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID; FAERS outcome shares are signal-detection rates, not incidence. Read them next to caseload WATCHLIST and the label guide.