Trimeperidine
Pronunciation:treye-meh-PER-i-deen
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:64-39-1
Formal Names:Isopromedol, Promedol
Type:Depressant (opioid class).Seepage 24
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule I (DEA no. 9646)
USA Availability:Illegal to possess
Pregnancy Category:None
Uses.This drug is somewhat likemeperidinebut has no officially sanc-
tioned medical use in the United States. Elsewhere it is used as a pain reliever.
Australian work has examined using trimeperidine, meperidine, andmetha-
donetogether for pain control. In Russia trimeperidine is given to adults and
children both and has been used to treat shock (low blood pressure and heart-
beat abnormality) as well as pain. A report from a Moscow surgery facility
indicated that trimeperidine is used routinely there and implied that patients
are allowed to select whatever dosage is effective for them. Another report
from Russia judged the substance to be an excellent choice for anesthesia in
abdominal cancer operations, although an additional study described the drug
as less effective thanfentanylin anesthesia. Trimeperidine has been used to
ease childbirth, but a clinical report from Bulgaria says that other drugs work
better. Russian military medicine used trimeperidine for treating combat ca-
sualties evacuated from the Afghanistan and Chechnya wars but found it less
effective than other pharmaceuticals. In the 1980s Russian research studied
possible uses for the drug in treating combined burn and radiation injuries, a
direction of research suggesting preparation for nuclear war.
Drawbacks.The drug has been known to halt breathing.
Abuse factors.A rat study demonstrated that dependence can develop with
trimeperidine.
Drug interactions.Not enough scientific information to report.
Cancer.Not enough scientific information to report.
Pregnancy.Not enough scientific information to report.
Additional information.Trimeperidine and the Schedule I substances al-
phameprodine (CAS RN 468-51-9), betameprodine (468-50-8), and prohepta-