Meperidine Dosage

The standard dosage of meperidine (for oral or injectable forms of the drug) for pain relief is 50 to 150 mg every three to four hours as needed. The recommended injectable dose for preoperative use is 50 to 100 mg given 30 to 60 minutes before the start of anesthesia. For children, dosing is determined by the child's weight.

Meperidine Dosage: An Introduction

The dose of meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The type and severity of your pain
  • How you respond to the medication
  • Your weight (for children)
  • Other medications you are taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Pain Relief

The standard recommended oral or injectable meperidine dosage for treating pain in adults is 50 to 150 mg every three to four hours as necessary. For children, the dosage for meperidine is based on weight.
 

Preoperative Use

The standard recommended injectable meperidine dose for preoperative use is 50 to 100 mg given 30 to 60 minutes before the start of anesthesia. For children, the proper dosage will be calculated using your child's weight.
 
For this use, meperidine is usually given as an injection into a muscle or under the skin.
 

Anesthesia

When used as part of anesthesia of surgery, meperidine is given intravenously. Usually, the medication is given very slowly until the desired results are achieved.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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