Meperidine: a critical review.
Journal Article (Journal Article;Review)
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.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Latta, KS; Ginsberg, B; Barkin, RL
Published Date
- January 2002
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 9 / 1
Start / End Page
- 53 - 68
PubMed ID
- 11782820
Pubmed Central ID
- 11782820
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1075-2765
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/00045391-200201000-00010
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States