Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus STADOL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus STADOL.
DEMEROL vs STADOL
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.
Partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and agonist at kappa-opioid receptors in the CNS, altering pain perception and emotional response to pain.
50-150 mg IM, IV, or SC every 3-4 hours as needed for pain; oral 50-150 mg every 3-4 hours.
Butorphanol tartrate 1-2 mg IV or IM every 3-4 hours as needed for pain; alternatively, 0.5-1 mg IV every 3-4 hours. For nasal spray: 1 mg (one spray) in one nostril, may repeat in 60-90 minutes if needed; then 1 mg every 3-4 hours as needed.
None Documented
None Documented
2.5-4 hours; prolonged in hepatic impairment (7-11 hours) and elderly.
Terminal elimination half-life: 2.5-4 hours; clinically, prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 10-12 hours) and elderly
Renal (90% as metabolites and unchanged drug; ~5% unchanged) and biliary/fecal (minor).
Renal: 85-90% as unchanged drug and metabolites (primarily as glucuronide conjugates); Fecal: <10%; Biliary: minimal
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic