Meperidine vs Morphine for Pain, Acute pancreatitis

mamiekay · May 23, 2011

We use either morphine or hydromorphone for acute pancreatitis. In our facility, meperidine is rarely used on a med/surg unit. The following article explains why meperidine is not the drug of choice. http://www2.kumc.edu/druginfo/pharmkey/Meperidine%20pharmacy%20key.htm It's from 2002, but it's the most current I could find.

Now, anyone who's ever been a nursing student knows that tests don't always represent the real world. Good luck!!!

tewdles, RN · May 23, 2011

I personally think meperidine is not the best pain reliever and would always prefer to give morphine...but then again, I am not the prescriber.

healthlink · Jun 25, 2011

On my unit we use hydromorphone. We see many acute pancreatitis!

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jul 7, 2011

pethidine(international generic name for meperidine) has some nasty side effects seizures, deliurm etc. Morphine is the gold standard. Pethidine is faster acting but shorter in duration. It has pretty much fallen out of favour in my hospital where we have one of the top hepato-biliary consultants in Australia.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2011

Somewhere in the back of my brain I am remembering that Meperidine specifically relaxes the sphincter (what spnchter you ask...I think its Oddi but I would have to look it up ) and relaxed sphincter = less pain. I will see if I can find the info tomorrow.too tired tonoc.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2011

pethidine(international generic name for meperidine) has some nasty side effects seizures, deliurm etc. Morphine is the gold standard. Pethidine is faster acting but shorter in duration. It has pretty much fallen out of favour in my hospital where we have one of the top hepato-biliary consultants in Australia.

rarely see Pethidine in the Uk any more either, due to the side effect profile, the fact that 100mg of diclofenac PR is as or more effective for renal colic and the madwives rules medicine act exemption now includes morphine ...