Demerol

Demerol is the trade name for meperidine, a narcotic drug that can be synthesized by combining benzyl cyanide with dichlorodiethyl methylamine. Demerol was originally intended to be used to treat muscle spasms, but since the analgesic properties of the drug were discovered, it has been prescribed almost exclusively for moderate to severe pain relief. It is a Schedule II controlled substance similar to morphine that can be equally addictive.

Addiction

Drug addiction can be defined as compulsive use, drug usage for sensation only (non-medical) purposes and continuation of use despite health risk or harm. Drug addiction is treatable and should be considered a disease and approached with rehab and counseling. There is a high incidence of relapse. Recovery requires constant, lifetime diligence.

The practice of ''doctor-shopping'' has become common among prescription abusers, which is visiting different doctors for the same diagnosis and treatment in order to collect multiple prescriptions for recreational purposes. Addicts will also resort to other ways of obtaining additional drugs, such as emergency visits, claiming lost prescriptions, and altering prescriptions.

Addiction to painkillers and medications is a condition widely recognized in the medical and pharmaceutical industry. While there are no official records, experts estimate that as many as 100,000 people in the United States are addicted to prescription drugs.

Demerol abuse poses a risk of overdose and possibly death. Combining Demerol with alcohol greatly increases the chances of adverse reaction. In tablet form, Demerol contains talc, making this a dangerous drug to crush and inject. Intravenous use can result in infection, tissue necrosis, and damage to the heart and pulmonary system. Overdose is characterized by decreased respiratory rate, shallow breathing, and cyanosis (indicated by blue lips), loss of consciousness, followed in extreme cases by coma, rubbery muscle tone, clammy skin, and occasionally hypotension and/or bradycardia. In extreme cases, particularly when Demerol is injected, impaired breathing, circulatory collapse, heart failure, and death may occur. If overdose is suspected, the victim should be rushed to the hospital immediately.

Description

Outside the hospital, Demerol is usually prescribed in either tablet or liquid form. The tablet is a small, round, white pill scored on one side with the markings 'D' and either 35 (50 mg) or 37 (100 mg). The opposite side bears the manufacturer's mark, a stylized M within a rounded square. It is water-soluble and has a slightly bitter taste. The liquid form is banana flavored and nonalcoholic.

Side effects

Even used properly, most drugs have side effects. For Demerol, common side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Lying down can alleviate many minor symptoms, and a lower dosage is advisable.

Demerol can also cause severe allergic reactions such as:

• Rash or hives
• Itching
• Breathing difficulty
• Tightness of the chest
• Swelling (mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
• Chest pains
• Fainting
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sudden mood changes
• Numbness of extremities
• Convulsions, dizziness
• Sudden severe headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Tremors
• Hallucinations and visual disturbances

If any of these symptoms occur, stop dosage and get the patient to the hospital as soon as possible.

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