Is a Generic Version of Demerol Available?
Demerol® (
meperidine hydrochloride) is a prescription opioid analgesic. It is approved for treating pain. It is also approved for use before and during surgery, usually as part of anesthesia, and also for use during childbirth (during labor).
Brand-name
Demerol tablets and oral solution are made by sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. Brand-name Demerol injectable products are made by Hospira, Inc. The patents for Demerol have expired and generic versions are also available.
Strengths of Generic Demerol
Generic Demerol is available in the following strengths and forms:
- Meperidine hydrochloride 50 mg tablets
- Meperidine hydrochloride 100 mg tablets
- Meperidine hydrochloride 50 mg per 5 mL oral solution
- Meperidine hydrochloride injection (in various strengths).
Who Makes the Generic Versions?
Several different manufactures make a generic for Demerol, including (but not limited to):
- Roxane Laboratories, Inc.
- Mallinckrodt, Inc.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
- Vintage Pharmaceutical, Inc.
- Watson Laboratories, Inc.
Is Generic Meperidine as Good as Demerol?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide if the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns each generic a rating. An "AA," "AB," or "AP" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. All of the generic meperidine versions currently available have an "AA," "AB," or "AP" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Demerol.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than their brand-name counterparts. This might include fillers or dyes or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with
allergies or sensitivities.
