FDA label
What is Demerol used for?
Demerol contains meperidine. The FDA-approved uses below are quoted from the Indications and Usage section of its DailyMed label.
Source: DailyMed SPL label file dated 2026-10-23. Publisher page
The FDA label says: “DEMEROL Injection is indicated for preoperative medication, support of anesthesia, and obstetrical analgesia.”
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Demerol, injection, solution
Indications and Usage, quoted from the label by Hospira, Inc. (NDA021171). Cross-references to other label sections are left out.
DEMEROL Injection is indicated for preoperative medication, support of anesthesia, and obstetrical analgesia.
DEMEROL Injection is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
Limitations of Use:
Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, which can occur at any dosage or duration and persist over the course of therapy,, reserve opioid analgesics, including DEMEROL Injection, for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain.
Use of DEMEROL Injection for an extended period of time may increase the risk of toxicity (e.g., seizures) from the accumulation of the meperidine metabolite, normeperidine.
Source: DailyMed label, set id b31d1308-28c3-43f4-e0a6-2f3ed76b8975, version 38, effective July 20, 2026. NDC 0409-1176, one of 3 listings for this product.
Questions
What is Demerol used for?
The FDA label says: “DEMEROL Injection is indicated for preoperative medication, support of anesthesia, and obstetrical analgesia.”
What drug class is Demerol?
FDA lists meperidine in the Opioid Agonist established pharmacologic class.
Does this page cover off-label uses or dosing?
No. This page shows only the Indications and Usage section of the FDA label. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about dosing.
More on Demerol
- Is Demerol a controlled substance?Schedule II
- Generic for DemerolFDA Orange Book
- What is Meperidine used for?FDA label uses
- Is Meperidine a controlled substance?Schedule II
- Opioid Agonists listFDA drug class
- NDC 0409-1176Demerol NDC record
- NDC 0409-1178Demerol NDC record
- NDC 0409-1181Demerol NDC record
- Schedule II drugs listDEA schedule