What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Hydrocortisone and meperidine
Meperidine's FDA label of November 29, 2025 names hydrocortisone in its drug interactions section; the hydrocortisone labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name meperidine. The meperidine label: “Meperidine is contraindicated in patients who are receiving monoamine oxidase (MAOIs) or those who have recently received such agents. …”
Check it at the source: the hydrocortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026); the meperidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 29, 2025, EPIC PHARMA, LLC).
What does the hydrocortisone label say about meperidine?
Hydrocortisone's label (effective August 19, 2026) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name meperidine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (hydrocortisone 1), Kroger Company, effective August 19, 2026 (SPL set f05edff2-2dc5-427c-b52c-518e0aaef4e0), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the meperidine label say about hydrocortisone?
Meperidine label, drug interactionsMonoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Clinical Impact: Meperidine is contraindicated in patients who are receiving monoamine oxidase (MAOIs) or those who have recently received such agents. Therapeutic doses of meperidine have occasionally precipitated unpredictable, severe, and occasionally fatal reactions in patients who have received such agents within 14 days. … Intervention: Do not use meperidine hydrochloride tablets in patients taking MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping such treatment. Intravenous hydrocortisone or prednisolone have been used to treat severe reactions, with the addition of intravenous chlorpromazine in those cases exhibiting hypertension and …
Meperidine label, warnings and precautionsIntravenous hydrocortisone or prednisolone have been used to treat severe reactions, with the addition of intravenous chlorpromazine in those cases exhibiting hypertension and hyperpyrexia.
Source: FDA drug label (Demerol, NDA021171), Hospira, Inc., effective July 20, 2026 (SPL set b31d1308-28c3-43f4-e0a6-2f3ed76b8975), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Meperidine Hydrochloride), EPIC PHARMA, LLC, effective November 29, 2025 (SPL set fae5cc34-5917-4445-9516-25f97ffca8db), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Hydrocortisone | Meperidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | Pain |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0613 per gram 1% cream | $0.157 per mL 50 mg/5 mL solution |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | Listed; available |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once