Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins, or as a shot under your skin or in a muscle.

Meperidine may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

You might not use all of the medicine in each ampul or cartridge. Use each ampul or cartridge only one time. If the medicine in the vial or syringe has changed color, or if you see particles in it, do not use it.

Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For moderate to severe pain:
      • Adults—At first, 50 to 150 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or under your skin every 3 or 4 hours as needed.
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 0.5 to 0.8 milligram (mg) per pound (lb) injected into a muscle or under your skin every 3 or 4 hours as needed.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.