Learn more about Demerol and its uses, side effects, and more.
Demerol is a drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. In the United States, it can be taken orally or through injection. The manufacturer has specified that the dosage for an adult is 50 to 150 mg every three or four hours when the drug is taken orally.
Meperidine
Pethidine
Demerol works quickly and can become addictive. Taking Demerol for a long time and/or taking more than the recommended doses increases the risk of addiction. Consequently, the United States government has labeled Demerol as a Schedule II controlled substance. Drugs in this category have a high potential for abuse and can result in severe physical and/or psychological dependence.
Uses
Demerol is a medication used to treat acute or short-term pain, especially back pain or muscle spasms. Because of the risk of addiction, Demerol should not be used to treat chronic pain. When taken orally, Demerol comes in tablet or liquid form. The tablets should be swallowed whole; the patient should not crush or chew them. If the patient is taking the liquid form, they need to use the measuring spoon or cup supplied to make sure they get the correct dose.
Side Effects
- Cramps and abdominal pain
- Digestive tract problems like constipation or nausea
- Anxiety
- Twitching muscles
- Loss of appetite
- Dry mouth

Tolerance and Dependence
If the user takes Demerol for a prolonged period, they eventually develop a tolerance for the drug. They begin to need to take increasing amounts of the drug to get the same relief from pain. That tolerance is accompanied by a physical dependence caused by changes in the user’s brain. A user dependent on Demerol needs the drug to stay free of pain.
A person addicted to Dermerol will look for ways to get more of the drug or intensify its effects. Users seeking to do the latter may do the following:
- Chew the tablets
- Crush the tablets and dissolve the powder in water to inject it
- Crush the tablets and snort the powder
A person trying to get more Demerol may pretend to lose prescriptions in order to get new ones. They may also visit multiple doctors to get prescriptions from them.
Withdrawal Symptoms
The withdrawal symptoms associated with Demerol are very similar to the withdrawal symptoms for all narcotic pain medicines. They can include the following:
treatment and assessment options.