Seniors Site

Demerol: Dangerous Analgesic?

Sparked by health concerns surrounding the King of Pop Michael Jackson’s death, the analgesic Demerol is once again, under close scrutiny by the media and various health sectors worldwide. This is something that seniors should also take note since Demerol is a staple for many seniors’ medicine cabinets worldwide.

Actually, Demerol should be taken in lower doses if the patient is already a senior but it seems that the largest market of the said drug belongs to this age group.

For those seniors who are not familiar with the drug Demerol, this drug is usually prescribed by healthcare providers for seniors experiencing severe pain—enough to interfere with lives and daily activities. They are painkillers, also referred to as narcotic analgesics. Their common uses are for surgeries, birthing, and major dental procedures. Demerol usually interferes with pain signals from the brain therefore making the body pain-free even if the cause of pain is still there. Relatively, it works like anesthetics which numb the body of any pain it could possibly feel up until the drug wears off. By interfering with the central nervous system, it clearly puts every internal organ of the body at risk, most especially the heart.

Due to its very sensitive nature, doctors are very careful in prescribing Demerol. They will explain extensively why this drug is being prescribed to the patient and for how long it should be taken. Demerol is strictly prescribed drug therefore it should not be given to just about anyone especially if you’re not a doctor, no matter what the urgency is. This drug reacts with other medications you may have been taking and it is noted that some individuals develop allergic reactions with narcotic analgesics such as Demerol.

Generally, Demerol has less side effects than most prescription drugs in the market today, but the problem with this drug is that it’s habit forming, partly because of its effectivity of completely easing the pain. Like any other addicting substances, a person who decides to stop using them will immediately experience withdrawal symptoms. It was also noted that seniors are more sensitive to these side effects when Demerol is taken for a longer period of time making them prone and vulnerable to complications. It is not also safe for pregnant women to take Demerol during term and labor unless it’s medically necessary and pros and cons are weighted carefully by attending physicians—even after pregnancy or during breastfeeding stage.

Demerol is not, in any way, a maintenance drug therefore it should not be considered as one; its main role is to support medical procedures that have to be done with less pain as possible. Prescribed doses depend on your doctor’s discretion and it should not be adjusted nor stopped abruptly without your good doctor’s advice.