What it means
An opioid analgesicOH-pee-oyd an-ul-JEE-zikA strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.Full entry that relieves moderate to severe pain. It is rarely a first choice now, because the body breaks it down into normeperidine, a substance that builds up with repeat doses or poor kidney function and can cause tremors and seizureSEE-zherA sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.Full entry . Taken with an MAO inhibitor such as phenelzineFEN-el-zeenA monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant taken by mouth.Full entry it can cause a severe, sometimes fatal reaction. It is a Schedule II controlled substance.
For the nurse
Check respiratory rate and sedation before and after each dose, and keep naloxone at hand. Report tremors, twitching or confusion. Ask about MAO inhibitor use in the past 14 days. The Beers Criteria advise avoiding it in older adults.
At a glance
| Drug class | opioid analgesic |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Demerol |
| Spanish | meperidina |
| Also written | pethidine, Demerol |
Related terms
opioid analgesic
A strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.
analgesic
A drug that relieves pain.
seizure
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.
phenelzine
A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant taken by mouth.