Meperidine, also known as Demerol, belongs to a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. According to the National Institutes of Health, Meperidine is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Meperidine relieves pain by blocking pain perception centers in the brain. Meperidine is only available by prescription due to dangerous side effects.
Respiratory Effects
According to Drugs.com, meperidine may cause slowed breathing and difficulty breathing. High doses of meperidine may cause respiratory arrest and death especially in people who already have breathing problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sleep apnea. People with breathing problems should first consult the doctor before taking meperidine. Meperidine should not be taken together with drugs that slow breathing such as narcotic pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives and muscle relaxants because death can occur. Alcohol should also not be consumed together with meperidine because the combination can cause apnea and death.
Nervous System Effects
Drugs.com states that meperidine causes drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, weakness and fainting. Patients should be careful when changing position or when standing up from a sitting position because fainting may occur. Meperidine may also cause uncoordinated muscle movements and impaired thinking; patients are advised to be careful while driving and operating machines. Meperidine in high doses may cause seizures or convulsions.
Meperidine causes constipation just like all other narcotics, though constipation occurs less frequently than with other narcotics. Other gastrointestinal side effects of meperidine include nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Meperidine causes biliary tract spasms and may aggravate biliary colic. Biliary colic is pain in the upper right abdomen that occurs when gallstones block the normal flow of bile from the gall bladder.
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