Meperidine: a critical review
by
Latta KS, Ginsberg B, Barkin RL.
Department of Pharmacy,
Duke University Medical Center,
Durham, Division of Pharmacotherapy,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
Campbell University,
Pharmacy Practice Division,
Buies Creek, North Carolina, USA.
Am J Ther 2002 Jan-Feb;9(1):53-68

ABSTRACT

Meperidine was initially synthesized as an anticholinergic agent but was soon discovered to have analgesic properties. Although meperidine's anticholinergic effects were demonstrated in vivo, the anticholinergic effects on the biliary and renal tracts have not been demonstrated in vivo. Studies have clearly demonstrated that meperidine is no more efficacious in treating biliary or renal tract spasm than comparative mu opioids. The initial studies demonstrating the analgesic efficacy of meperidine were mostly case reports and not double-blind, randomized, controlled trials in specific populations. Subsequent comparative studies failed to demonstrate any advantages of meperidine over comparable doses of other analgesics. Meperidine was portrayed in practice and teaching as having unique clinical advantages. The analgesic effects of meperidine are not pronounced, and, in addition, meperidine use is complicated by unique side effects including serotonergic crisis and normeperidine toxicity. Meperidine's poor efficacy, toxicity, and multiple drug interactions have resulted in a movement to replace meperidine with more efficacious and less toxic opioid analgesics.

Pain
Meperidine
Opium timeline
Opioid receptors
Meperidine: structure
Endomorphins 1 and 2
The Pleasures of Opium
Toxic meperidine analogs
Meperidine versus hydromorphone

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family