Meperidine is which type of drug and is used for what kind of management?

• A. Opioid antagonist; overdose
• B. Non-opioid analgesic; pain
• C. Local anesthetic; nerve block
• D. Opioid agonist; pain

Answer: (D)

Meperidine is an opioid analgesic that acts as an agonist at mu opioid receptors to dampen pain signaling in the nervous system. It is used for relief of moderate to severe acute pain. It is not an opioid antagonist (that would reverse opioid effects), not a non-opioid analgesic, and not a local anesthetic. The analgesic effect comes from activating central mu receptors, which inhibits transmission of pain. A note of caution: meperidine can cause tachycardia due to anticholinergic effects and has a neurotoxic metabolite that can accumulate, especially with kidney impairment or prolonged use, raising seizure risk. For these reasons, its use is more limited today compared with other opioids.