Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus XARTEMIS XR.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DEMEROL versus XARTEMIS XR.
DEMEROL vs XARTEMIS XR
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.
XARTEMIS XR is a combination of oxycodone (a full mu-opioid receptor agonist) and acetaminophen (a centrally acting analgesic with antipyretic properties via cyclooxygenase inhibition).
50-150 mg IM, IV, or SC every 3-4 hours as needed for pain; oral 50-150 mg every 3-4 hours.
1 tablet (oxycodone 7.5 mg / acetaminophen 325 mg) orally every 12 hours; maximum 2 tablets per day.
None Documented
None Documented
2.5-4 hours; prolonged in hepatic impairment (7-11 hours) and elderly.
Oxycodone: 5.3-6.6 hours (immediate-release), extended-release formulation shows prolonged absorption with apparent half-life ~7.2-9.6 hours; naloxone: 2-3 hours.
Renal (90% as metabolites and unchanged drug; ~5% unchanged) and biliary/fecal (minor).
Renal: oxycodone and metabolites ~8.8% free oxycodone, ~8.8% noroxycodone, ~33% conjugated metabolites; naloxone: extensive hepatic metabolism, <1% excreted unchanged in urine. Fecal: naloxone metabolites ~17%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic