Demerol Symptoms And Warning Signs

Signs Of Demerol (Meperidine) Use

Demerol is a highly addictive opioid and one of many prescription Painkillers that are prevalent in the United States. It may be hard to tell if someone is abusing Demerol, especially if they have a prescription for it.

Using Demerol in any way not prescribed by a doctor is abuse, which can eventually turn into addiction. There are several things to look for that may indicate when someone is using Demerol inappropriately.

Some external signs of Demerol abuse include:

Dangers Of Demerol Abuse

Millions of Americans abuse prescription opioids like Demerol and this epidemic has been growing at an alarming rate over the last decade. Many feel that Demerol isn’t that dangerous because it doesn’t have the same stigma attached to it as street drugs.

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Many who abuse Demerol develop a tolerance to the drug. This requires them to take larger doses of the substance to get the same euphoric effect. Taking larger doses of Demerol increases the likelihood of adverse health problems, as the drug takes a toll on the user’s internal organs.

Long-term Demerol abuse can lead to an array of health problems, such as:

• Seizures
• Heart attack
• Liver problems
• Difficult breathing
• Stroke
• Coma
• Headache
• Confusion
• Constipation

Those who become addicted to Demerol often resort to snorting and/or injecting the drug to produce a more intense high. Many of these addicted people make the switch over to Heroin because it is cheaper and produces the same kind of high.

[Dr. Palmer] hit bottom in 1979, adding Demerol injections to his menu. By then, he said, his marriage had collapsed, his finances were a shambles and he had lost a hospital job for writing false prescriptions. One night in a motel room he came frighteningly close to suicide.

Since 1999, the amount of Painkillers prescribed in the U.S. has nearly quadrupled. This marks a massive trend of overprescribing. Patients are visiting multiple doctors to receive abundant amounts of the drugs to feed their habits. Health professionals are also among those likely to become addicted to Demerol because they have more access to these drugs.

Recognizing Demerol Addiction

There is a fine line between addiction and abuse. Abuse starts when the person starts taking Demerol in ways not prescribed by a doctor. Some people start taking the drug under the supervision of a doctor, but later start to take more of the drug than prescribed. Most people get Demerol from friends or family members who have a prescription.

Outside of the physical signs associated with Demerol addiction, there are many other behavioral signs that heavily indicate there is a problem.

Some of the tell-tale signs of Demerol addiction are:

• Isolation from friends and family to hide drug use.
• “Doctor shopping”.
• Stealing money from friends and family to feed their habit.
• Forging prescriptions.
• Becoming highly defensive when their drug use is brought up.
• Neglecting their obligations at work and at home.

Addiction marks the point when the person is taking the drug on a frequent basis and becomes psychologically and physically dependent on the drug. At this point, the addicted person feels they are physically and emotionally incapable of functioning without the drug.

Intervention And Next Steps

In some cases, staging an intervention may be a good way to help a Demerol user into treatment. This means confronting the addict about his or her behavior. The family must express their feelings about the person’s Demerol use in a non-adversarial way and explain how that drug use affects others.

Part of every intervention is outlining consequences for not going into rehab. The consequences should be severe enough to give the addicted person a strong incentive to get help. The consequences are up to the family to decide, but may be along the lines of asking the addict to move out or removing contact with his or her children.

At the end of an intervention, the family should take the addicted person immediately into treatment. If the addicted person refuses treatment, that is his or her choice, but the family must stick to the consequences they laid out.

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Demerol Withdrawal And Treatment

Demerol is a strong, physically addictive drug, which means those who stop taking it after a prolonged period of time can experience intense physical withdrawal. When someone stops taking Demerol abruptly, they may experience signs of fever, vomiting, nausea, anxiety, restlessness, muscle aches, stomach aches, and seem physically ill. This stage of withdrawal is painful but can be managed in a controlled treatment setting.

If you have a loved one that is struggling with Demerol addiction and in need of treatment, contact a treatment provider for rehab-related help.