What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Meperidine and trazodone
Meperidine's FDA label of November 29, 2025 names trazodone in its drug interactions section; the trazodone labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name meperidine. The meperidine label: “The concomitant use of opioids with other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system has resulted in serotonin syndrome.”
Check it at the source: the meperidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 29, 2025, EPIC PHARMA, LLC); the trazodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 22, 2026, Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.).
What does the meperidine label say about trazodone?
Meperidine label, drug interactionsSerotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of opioids with other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system has resulted in serotonin syndrome. … 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 …
Meperidine label, warnings and precautionsSerotonergic drugs include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), St John’s wort, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), triptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), certain muscle relaxants (i.e., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), and drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs, both those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue) [see Drug Interactions (7) ].
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
What does the trazodone label say about meperidine?
Trazodone's label (effective January 22, 2026) and its 1 other brand-application label 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 (Trazodone Hydrochloride), Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., effective January 22, 2026 (SPL set 704aebf9-2fff-4ef3-8323-9ff0d7f0ffd9), 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
| Meperidine | Trazodone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Depression |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.157 per mL 50 mg/5 mL solution | $0.0307 per tablet 50 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | Listed; available | No current entry |
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