Demerol is a medication given to patients to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is only available by prescription and should not be taken otherwise.
What Is Demerol?
Demerol is a medication given to patients to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is only available by prescription and should not be taken otherwise. Demerol is classified as an opioid analgesic, meaning it changes how the brain recognizes pain and how the body experiences it.
Taking Demerol may produce some common, non-serious side effects at the beginning of treatment. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, and pain or redness at the injection site. Be sure to notify your doctor if these side effects persist or worsen over time. Usually, the side effects will subside as the body adjusts to the medication.
Experiencing serious side effects from a Demerol treatment plan is uncommon. These side effects would include mood changes, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, stomach or abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, slow or irregular heartbeat, tremors, vision changes, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, and weight loss. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience severe Demerol side effects such as fainting, seizures, slow or shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, and difficulty waking from sleep.
How Is Demerol Used?
Demerol is typically administered via injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin. It should only be taken as directed by your doctor.
If you are administering Demerol at home, educate yourself on the preparation and usage instructions from your doctor or pharmacist. Prior to administering Demerol, check the medication for particles or discoloration. If you notice anything abnormal, do not inject it. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to store and discard the medication safely.
When Demerol is injected into a patient’s vein, it is distributed slowly to prevent serious side effects. If Demerol is administered into a muscle or under the skin, make sure to change the injection site each time in order to lessen the chance for injuries. Always lie down when administering Demerol to prevent dizziness.
In addition, do not adjust your Demerol dosage level or treatment schedule unless your doctor instructs you to do so.
Demerol Addiction
Demerol patients taking the medication exactly as prescribed may still become psychologically reliant upon the substance. If you begin to suspect someone in your life is misusing Demerol, seek professional help as soon as possible. Symptoms of Demerol addiction include becoming obsessed with finding and taking Demerol, performing poorly or irregularly at school or work, and losing interest in the hobbies and activities you once enjoyed.
Demerol Medical Detox
If you do not wish to continue taking Demerol, schedule a meeting with your doctor to discuss alternatives for treating your pain. Do not abruptly stop taking Demerol. By suddenly stopping a Demerol treatment plan, you greatly increase the risk of unwanted withdrawal symptoms. In fact, you should never adjust your Demerol dosage levels or treatment schedule without explicit instruction from your doctor.
Patients who no longer want to take this medication will typically be given a lowered dose gradually over time by their doctor. This strategy of tapering off the medication helps patients avoid severe withdrawal.
Demerol Rehabilitation Programs
People who have developed a Demerol addiction can greatly benefit from the rehabilitation programs offered by The Recovery Village. Regardless of whether a patient begins treatment with inpatient or outpatient rehab, they will first be required to safely detox from Demerol. Once all the medication is completely cleansed from the patient’s system, they will participate in individual and group counseling sessions hosted by The Recovery Village. Patients will also have the opportunity to enjoy recreational therapy programs.
Inpatient Demerol Rehab
Inpatient Demerol rehab allows patients to live at one of The Recovery Village’s designated inpatient centers while they overcome their Demerol addiction. This type of rehab program is especially helpful for patients who may have difficulties recovering due to distractions at home or those who have severe Demerol addiction.
Outpatient Demerol Rehab
After completing inpatient Demerol rehab, patients begin the second leg of treatment with outpatient Demerol rehab. Outpatient Demerol rehab allows patients to live at home while they attend scheduled treatment appointments at The Recovery Village. Some patients with mild Demerol addiction may opt to begin recovery with outpatient Demerol rehab and skip the inpatient option.
Choosing a Demerol Rehab Center
Choosing a Demerol rehab center to support your unique needs is an integral step in the recovery process. Schedule a meeting with your doctor to discuss which features you should look for in a rehab center. Other factors like how long you have been taking Demerol and your Demerol dosage levels are important to cover throughout this discussion.
If you or someone you love is suffering from Demerol addiction or another form of a substance use disorder, do not hesitate in seeking the help you need. The Recovery Village has many resources and programs for patients looking to live a happier, substance-free life.
FAQs
If you begin to think someone in your life is misusing Demerol, seek professional help as soon as possible.
Symptoms which may point to Demerol misuse:
- Losing interest in the hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Becoming obsessed with finding and taking Demerol
- Performing poorly at work or school
- Acting irregularly at home
- Suffering financial losses due to spending money on Demerol.
Patients who are taking Demerol responsibly and exactly as directed by their doctor are still at risk of developing a physical dependence or psychological addiction. This is mainly due to Demerol’s classification as an opioid analgesic; opioids are powerful pain-relievers, but they quickly build a tolerance in most patients.
Common withdrawal symptoms of Demerol include anxiety, paranoid thinking, agitation, insomnia, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, runny nose, runny eyes, shortness of breath, muscle aches, sweating, chills, dry mouth, increased blood pressure, hallucinations, and more. Remember, do not stop taking Demerol without assistance from your doctor as your risk for experiencing these side effects will increase.
Taking Demerol may produce some common, non-serious side effects at the beginning of treatment. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, and pain or redness at the injection site. Be sure to notify your doctor if these side effects persist or worsen over time. Usually, the side effects will subside as the body adjusts to the medication.
Experiencing serious side effects from a Demerol treatment plan is uncommon. These side effects would include mood changes, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, stomach or abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, slow or irregular heartbeat, tremors, vision changes, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, and weight loss. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience severe Demerol side effects such as fainting, seizures, slow or shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, and difficulty waking from sleep.
Demerol is a medication given to patients to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is only available by prescription and should not be taken otherwise. Demerol is classified as an opioid analgesic, meaning it changes how the brain recognizes pain and how the body experiences it.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.