Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus NUMORPHAN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus NUMORPHAN.
DEMEROL vs NUMORPHAN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Meperidine is an opioid agonist that binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system, mimicking endogenous endorphins to produce analgesia, sedation, and euphoria. It also has additional weak actions at kappa and delta receptors.
Opioid agonist; binds to mu-opioid receptors in the CNS, inhibiting ascending pain pathways and altering pain perception.
50-150 mg IM, IV, or SC every 3-4 hours as needed for pain; oral 50-150 mg every 3-4 hours.
Intravenous or subcutaneous: 0.5-2 mg (0.1-0.2 mg/kg for severe pain) every 2-3 hours as needed; not to exceed 20 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
2.5-4 hours; prolonged in hepatic impairment (7-11 hours) and elderly.
Terminal elimination half-life is 2–3 hours in adults; prolonged to 3–4 hours in elderly and up to 15 hours in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Renal (90% as metabolites and unchanged drug; ~5% unchanged) and biliary/fecal (minor).
Primarily renal (approximately 70% as unchanged drug, <5% as noroxymorphone and other conjugates); biliary/fecal excretion accounts for ~20%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic