an appropriate pre-op medication

[GingerSue]

is demerol an appropriate pre-op medicaton (or post-op analgesic) for someone who has a malfunctioning kidney?

Without knowing the functioning of the other kidney - demerol is metabolized to normeperidine which is dependent on the kidneys for excretion.

(and normeperidine accumulates, seizures can result)

Is demerol appropriate?

[TazziRN, RN]

Yes because you would know the status of the other kidney. When one kidney has problems a very close eye is kept on the other one. It is even okay with two malfunctioning kidneys if it's a pre-op med because it's a one time dose.

[GingerSue]

what about demerol for post-op analgesic?

[TazziRN, RN]

Wouldn't be a problem. In the scenario you described, the other kidney is fine.

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

what about demerol for post-op analgesic?

Some studies have been done that show demerol is also not very effective as an analgesic. Add that to the concerns about normeperidine build-up, and many places are phasing out using it for analgesia beyone one or two doses.

My patients have also told me that demerol doesn't kill the pain; It gives them a high so that they "don't care about the pain any more". (Maybe another reason why Demerol is so much in demand amongst the addicted/ drug dependent population....)

IMO, if someone's allergic to other analgesics, I'll use demerol if I have to. But I'd rather give them something safer and that works!

In the PACU in my hospital, they use demerol for post-op shivering.

[nj1grlcrus]

My patients have also told me that demerol doesn't kill the pain; It gives them a high so that they "don't care about the pain any more".

I've heard the same thing

[lsyorke, RN]

Demerol isn't even formulary in my hospital anymore. It's a lousy analgesic. We stopped using it years ago.

[reesern63, RN]

We only use it post-op for rigors. I haven't seen it used as a pre-op med in over a decade. I usually see Versed just as they're wheeling the pt out the doors.

For post-op analgesia? Never.

[TazziRN, RN]

I still see Demerol and morphine in PCA pumps for post-op as well as IV push in the ER.

[reesern63, RN]

I still see Demerol and morphine in PCA pumps for post-op as well as IV push in the ER.

Isn't it interesting how practice varies depending on what part of the country you live in. In my hosp. the only units that even have Demerol are mine (pre-op), ICU and PACU. It's not kept in the Pyxis in any other dept.

[HenryH0]

I work on a surgery floor and the doctors are great they usually prescribe different analgesics to try like prescribing T3's, demerol and morphine until the patients find one that works for them and then the nurses use the one that works for the patient

we also make sure to teach the patient to ask for the analgesic that works for them

Surprisingly the most effective analgesic that I have found is toradol

[meandragonbrett]

One of the byproducts of Demerol is neurotoxic and easily builds up in the body after about 48 hours of Demerol use.