Can you inject meperidine

Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Selling or giving away opioid medicine is against the law. Meperidine injection is given as an infusion into a vein, or injected into a muscle or under the skin. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device not a kitchen spoon.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly after long-term use , or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using meperidine. Never crush or break a meperidine pill to inhale the powder or mix it into a liquid to inject the drug into your vein.

This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of prescription drugs. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription. Do not keep leftover opioid medication. Just one dose can cause death in someone using this medicine accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet.

Since meperidine is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at A meperidine overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, cold and clammy skin, blue-colored skin or lips, fainting, or coma.

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with meperidine. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction : hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up. Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are malnourished or debilitated. Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility ability to have children in men or women. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins, or as a shot under your skin or in a muscle. Meperidine may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine.

Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine. You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

You might not use all of the medicine in each ampul or cartridge. Use each ampul or cartridge only one time. If the medicine in the vial or syringe has changed color, or if you see particles in it, do not use it. Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.

The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Keep from freezing. It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are receiving this medicine. This is to make sure that the medicine is working properly, and to allow your doctor to check for any unwanted effects.

Using these medicines together may cause unwanted effects, such as confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, a sudden high temperature, an extremely high blood pressure, or convulsions. Symptoms of an overdose include extreme dizziness or weakness, slow heartbeat or breathing, seizures, trouble breathing, and cold, clammy skin. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, other prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.

Check with your doctor before taking any of the medicines listed above while you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause sleep-related breathing problems eg, sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia.

Your doctor may decrease your dose if you have sleep apnea stop breathing for short periods during sleep while using this medicine. This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions. Using narcotics for a long time can cause severe constipation. To prevent this, your doctor may direct you to take laxatives, drink a lot of fluids, or increase the amount of fiber in the diet.

For these reasons, before you are given pethidine, it is important that your doctor knows:. Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with pethidine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital.

Take the container with you, even if it is empty. This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours. If you are having an operation or any dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking. If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with your other medicines. Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines.

Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.