What is meperidine used for?

Indications and Usage, quoted from the label by Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (ANDA080445). Cross-references to other label sections are left out.

Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection is indicated for preoperative medication, support of anesthesia, and obstetrical analgesia.

Meperidine Hydrochloride 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, and misuse with opioids, which can occur at any dosage or duration, reserve Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options (e.g., non-opioid analgesics or opioid combination products):

• Have not been tolerated or are not expected to be tolerated
• Have not provided adequate analgesia or are not expected to provide adequate analgesia

Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection should not be used for an extended period of time unless the pain remains severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatment options continue to be inadequate.

Use of Meperidine Hydrochloride 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 e0e998da-f056-4fce-be8e-ed60cf3b461b, version 11, effective April 9, 2024. NDC 0641-6052, one of 3 listings for this product.

Indications and Usage, quoted from the label by Genus Lifesciences Inc. (ANDA040893). Cross-references to other label sections are left out.

Meperidine hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the management of acute 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 meperidine hydrochloride tablets for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain.

Meperidine hydrochloride tablets should not be used for treatment of chronic pain. Use of meperidine hydrochloride tablets 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 792fefda-6cc4-4709-b902-fd9787fc310a, version 2, effective February 13, 2026. NDC 64950-214, one of 3 listings for this product.

Indications and Usage, quoted from the label by Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (ANDA088744). Cross-references to other label sections are left out.

Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution are indicated for the management of acute 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 Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets or Oral Solution, 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 Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets or Oral Solution 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 15bc51a8-1e24-4d33-9a2f-05a41c29acf0, version 25, effective February 27, 2026. NDC 0054-3545, one of 1 listing for this product.