Prescription medication · Opioid Analgesic
meperidine
Also sold as Demerol. Meperidine is used to manage acute pain that is severe enough to need an opioid pain medicine.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 8,979
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 31
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
meperidine (Demerol) is a prescription Opioid Analgesic, reported less often than most tracked drugs (8,979 FDA reports), with 31 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
meperidine (Demerol) is a prescription Opioid Analgesic. Meperidine is used to manage acute pain that is severe enough to need an opioid pain medicine.
Meperidine is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe, acute pain when other pain medicines are not strong enough.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
meperidine is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company. Status: Unavailable.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.16/unit
Generic Available
Yes (4 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Meperidine is used to manage acute pain that is severe enough to need an opioid pain medicine.
Common side effects
Lightheadedness, Dizziness, Sleepiness
Key warnings
Meperidine has a boxed warning.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from meperidine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Meperidine is an opioid agonist. It works by binding to receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This reduces the feeling of pain.
How to Take It
Take meperidine exactly as your doctor tells you. Adults usually take 50 mg to 150 mg every 3 to 4 hours as needed for pain. Children usually take 1.1 mg/kg to 1.8 mg/kg every 3 to 4 hours as needed. Your doctor may change your dose based on how you respond to the medicine.
This is a plain-language summary of meperidine's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of meperidine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
This is a plain-language summary of meperidine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store meperidine at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Keep it in a safe place where others cannot access it.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 8,979 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for meperidine, by number of reports
- Allergic reaction to the drug
Allergic reaction to the drug
3,248 reports
- Pain 1,250
Pain
1,250 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,133
Feeling sick to your stomach
1,133 reports
- Excessive sweating 821
Excessive sweating
821 reports
- Skin rash 775
Skin rash
775 reports
- Throwing up 735
Throwing up
735 reports
- Taking too much of the drug 719
Taking too much of the drug
719 reports
- High blood pressure 677
High blood pressure
677 reports
- Headache 647
Headache
647 reports
- Fever 631
Fever
631 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for meperidine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where meperidine sits
meperidine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 37% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is meperidine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 8,979 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
8,979
Reports Mentioning Death
724
8.1% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,753
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 3,249 |
| 3 | PAIN | 1,248 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 1,132 |
| 6 | HYPERHIDROSIS | 821 |
| 8 | RASH | 775 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 734 |
| 10 | OVERDOSE | 719 |
| 11 | HYPERTENSION | 677 |
| 12 | HEADACHE | 647 |
| 13 | PYREXIA | 631 |
| 14 | FATIGUE | 608 |
| 15 | JOINT SWELLING | 568 |
| 16 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 567 |
| 17 | UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION | 564 |
| 18 | INFUSION RELATED REACTION | 559 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7.2 Opioid Drugs Because serious, sometimes fatal reactions have been precipitated with concomitant use of opioid drugs (e.g., meperidine and its derivatives, methadone, propoxyphene, or tramadol) and MAOIs, including selective MAO-B inhibitors, concomitant use of these drugs is contraindicated [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Mechanism: This combination can cause a severe, life-threatening reaction by interfering with how the brain handles certain chemicals.
What to do: Avoid taking these medications together under any circumstances.
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)] .
Mechanism: 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.
What to do: Do not take these two medications together. Talk to your doctor about safer pain relief options that do not interact with your other medicine.
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the...
Mechanism: This combination can cause a life-threatening reaction involving very high blood pressure or too much serotonin in the brain. The drugs prevent your body from properly breaking down these powerful chemicals.
What to do: Avoid this combination entirely. If it is used, your healthcare provider must monitor you for signs of a reaction and be ready to stop the medicine.
Examples: Benzodiazepines and other sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), other opioids, alcohol.
Mechanism: Both drugs slow down the central nervous system. This can lead to increased sleepiness, dizziness, or breathing difficulties.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your doses, and you should be monitored for signs of excessive sedation.
Examples: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), triptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, drugs that effect the serotonin neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), certain muscle relaxants (i.e., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue).
Mechanism: Both drugs increase the level of a brain chemical called serotonin. Too much serotonin can cause a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Watch for symptoms like confusion, sweating, or a fast heartbeat and seek medical help if they occur.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I take this for my chronic back pain?
What should I do if I feel like the medicine is not working anymore?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Is it okay to drive while taking this medication?
What should I do if someone accidentally takes my medicine?
Can I stop taking this medicine suddenly?
Will this medicine make me constipated?
Can I take other medications with meperidine?
How long will it take for this medicine to work?
What are the symptoms of an overdose?
What are the common side effects of meperidine?
Does meperidine interact with other medications?
What drug class is meperidine?
Is meperidine safe during pregnancy?
Is meperidine currently in shortage?
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for meperidine
The FDA label for meperidine (sold under brand names such as Demerol) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Opioid Analgesic class. Meperidine is used to manage acute pain that is severe enough to need an opioid pain medicine. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Lightheadedness, Dizziness, Sleepiness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 8,979 voluntary reports. The database also lists 31 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.16.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 20, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages