Comments on: Bashing Demerol http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87546 Anonymous Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87546 Demerol seemed to be of some use in stopping the shivers, or rigors, that you see on emergence from anesthesia. Not sure how well that's been studied. Demerol seemed to be of some use in stopping the shivers, or rigors, that you see on emergence from anesthesia. Not sure how well that’s been studied.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87527 Anonymous Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:25:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87527 Agreed SF, but remember some of us docs are working outside the ER. Blankets statements about a drug being of "no positive indication" show that one has never had significant experience with say an AML undergoing induction who may be septic and is rigoring up a storm. <br/>Food for thought. Agreed SF, but remember some of us docs are working outside the ER. Blankets statements about a drug being of “no positive indication” show that one has never had significant experience with say an AML undergoing induction who may be septic and is rigoring up a storm.
Food for thought.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87526 Anonymous Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87526 Agreed, very bad drug for pain. The old demerol/vistaril combo request is a dead giveaway.<br/><br/>One interesting factoid I've heard: meperidine was originally synthesized by Nazis in the early days of WWII. Unlike other opioids, I've been told it's an atropine derivative whose synthesis didn't require access to poppy fields (which were blockaded by the Allies). <br/><br/>Anybody know if this story is actually true? Can't find a ton on the net other than one guy who seems to know a lot about opioid synthesis by Hoechst Pharmaceuticals in the late 1930s:<br/>http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/archive/index.php/t-257715.html<br/><br/>Interestingly, methadone seems to have a similar history. Agreed, very bad drug for pain. The old demerol/vistaril combo request is a dead giveaway.

One interesting factoid I’ve heard: meperidine was originally synthesized by Nazis in the early days of WWII. Unlike other opioids, I’ve been told it’s an atropine derivative whose synthesis didn’t require access to poppy fields (which were blockaded by the Allies).

Anybody know if this story is actually true? Can’t find a ton on the net other than one guy who seems to know a lot about opioid synthesis by Hoechst Pharmaceuticals in the late 1930s:
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/archive/index.php/t-257715.html

Interestingly, methadone seems to have a similar history.

]]> By: shadowfax http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87525 shadowfax Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:04:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87525 Yes, Demerol is good for rigors -- fortunately, that's not a common problem in the ER.<br/><br/>The "anti-spasmodic" properties of demerol were always sketchy at best and have been pretty well debunked. <br/><br/>Cheers,<br/><br/>SF Yes, Demerol is good for rigors — fortunately, that’s not a common problem in the ER.

The “anti-spasmodic” properties of demerol were always sketchy at best and have been pretty well debunked.

Cheers,

SF

]]> By: The Happy Hospitalist http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87523 The Happy Hospitalist Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:41:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87523 I have patients all the time that say demerol is the only medication that works. Of course it is. I have patients all the time that say demerol is the only medication that works. Of course it is.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87522 Anonymous Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:20:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87522 Demerol is useful in severe refractory rigors. Talk with your ID or onc docs kevin. Demerol is useful in severe refractory rigors. Talk with your ID or onc docs kevin.

]]> By: Michael Rack, MD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html/comment-page-1#comment-87521 Michael Rack, MD Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:44:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/10/bashing-demerol.html#comment-87521 I agree with not using demerol for migraines. <br/> When I was a resident, it was the drug of choice for pancreatitis, due to the theoretical possibility of sphincter of oddi dysfunction with morphine- what's the current thinking on this? I agree with not using demerol for migraines.
When I was a resident, it was the drug of choice for pancreatitis, due to the theoretical possibility of sphincter of oddi dysfunction with morphine- what’s the current thinking on this?

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