Meperidine

Uses

  • Management of acute severe pain
  • Postoperative shivering
  • Rigors from amphotericin B
  • Targeted temperature management-related shivering

Adverse Effects

Considerations for PT

  1. Consider risk of changes in heart rate. Consider monitoring heart rate, especially if medication recently started. Consider risk of changes in heart rate. Consider monitoring heart rate, especially if medication recently started.
  2. Consider risk of orthostatic hypotension and potential impact on falls risk. Consider risk of orthostatic hypotension and potential impact on falls risk.
  3. Consider risk of dizziness and drowsiness and potential impact on falls risk.Consider risk of dizziness and drowsiness and potential impact on falls risk.

Route of Administration

  1. Intramuscular (IM)Intramuscular (IM)
  2. Intravenous (IV)Intravenous (IV)
  3. Oral
  4. SubcutaneousSubcutaneous

Mechanism of Action

Binds to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, causing:

  • Inhibition of ascending pain pathways
  • Alteration of perception of pain
  • Alteration of response to pain
  • Generalized depression of central nervous system

Drug Dynamics

Time to Peak Effect

1 hour

Duration of Action

2 hours to 4 hours

Time to Onset

10 minutes to 15 minutes

Resources

*Some links accessed via VCH Intranet

Last updated: April 30, 2026