Demerol Patient, Information, Instructions - Meperidine

Demerol Patient, Information, Instructions - Meperidine

PATIENT INFORMATION

See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS .

If clinically advisable, patients receiving  DEMEROL  (meperidine hydrochloride) tablets or their caregivers should be given the following information by the physician, nurse, pharmacist, or caregiver:

1. Patients should be aware that  DEMEROL  tablets contain meperidine, which is a morphine-like substance.
2. Patients should be advised to report pain and adverse experiences occurring during therapy. Individualization of dosage is essential to make optimal use of this medication.
3. Patients should be advised not to adjust the dose of  DEMEROL  without consulting the prescribing professional.
4. Patients should be advised that  DEMEROL  may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery).
5. Patients should not combine  DEMEROL  with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants (sleep aids, tranquilizers) except by the orders of the prescribing physician, because dangerous additive effects may occur, resulting in serious injury or death.
6. Women of childbearing potential who become, or are planning to become pregnant should be advised to consult their physician regarding the effects of analgesics and other drug use during pregnancy on themselves and their unborn child.
7. Patients should be advised that  DEMEROL  is a potential drug of abuse. They should protect it from theft, and it should never be given to anyone other than the individual for whom it was prescribed.
8. Patients should be advised that if they have been receiving treatment with  DEMEROL  for more than a few weeks and cessation of therapy is indicated, it may be appropriate to taper the  DEMEROL  dose, rather than abruptly discontinue it, due to the risk of precipitating withdrawal symptoms. Their physician can provide a dose schedule to accomplish a gradual discontinuation of the medication.
9. Patients should be instructed to keep  DEMEROL  in a secure place out of the reach of children. When  DEMEROL  is no longer needed, the unused tablets should be destroyed by flushing down the toilet.