Demerol and its Side Effects

Demerol, or meperidine hydrochloride, is a strong opioid used to control moderate to severe pain. Demerol is similar to morphine in strength and action. It works to relieve pain by affecting pain perception and by causing sedation.As with all opioid drugs, Demerol can potentially impair breathing, cause confusion or lead to physical dependence. However, Demerol may be the drug of choice for someone who cannot get relief from their pain any other way.

You may be at a greater risk for Demerol side effects if you have any of the following:

• Sickle cell anemia
• Alcoholism
• Kyphoscoliosis or other skeletal problems that may affect breathing funcition
• Adrenal disorders
• Pulmonary problems
• Impaired liver or kidney function

Apart from confusion and respiratory distress, one of the main risks of prolonged Demerol use is physical dependence, which can potentially lead to abuse. If you have a physical dependence on the Demerol drug, withdrawal may cause severe symptoms, such as anxiety, back pain, weakness and nausea.Is Demerol dangerous? Yes and no.

Like other strong opioids, Demerol can be taken safely under a doctor’s careful supervision. Many people use Demerol regularly without adverse effects. However, Demerol drug can be dangerous if it is used inappropriately. Mixing Demerol with alcohol or other opioids can be deadly. It is also dangerous to mix Demerol with other prescription medications that cause sedation, such as sleep aids or anti-anxiety drugs.

It can, however, be safely taken by people with chronic pain, provided they take the proper precautions against potential Demerol side effects.

_Source:

_{National Institutes of Health. Daily Med: Demerol. Accessed 6/26/09. http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=8747}