mepergan

How long does Meperidine Hydrochloride and Promethazine Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of meperidine hydrochloride and promethazine hydrochloride is about 9 to 16 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. Kinetics are linear (no saturable/dose-dependent behavior). The FDA label reports a plasma half-life of 9-16 hours after IV dosing and a mean of 9.8 ± 3.4 hours after IM dosing; the oral tablet label omits a numeric half-life but describes the same disposition. Duration of clinical effect (about 4-6 hours, occasionally up to 12) is shorter than the elimination half-life, so sedation can wear off well before the drug clears. Promethazine is metabolized in the liver to sulfoxides of promethazine and N-desmethylpromethazine (the main urinary metabolites); the label does not characterize these as clinically active or as outlasting the parent. Not a prodrug. Because clearance is hepatic, impaired liver function may prolong the half-life; the label gives no specific age- or kidney-based half-life values.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection, USP — FDA label (DailyMed).

Frequently asked questions

How is Mepergan rated?

pharmaranks gives Mepergan a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Mepergan cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.16 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Mepergan?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Mepergan. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Mepergan?

Mepergan is marketed by Hikma. You can see Hikma's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Mepergan a brand-name or generic drug?

Mepergan is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Meperidine Hydrochloride and Promethazine Hydrochloride.

Is Mepergan available over the counter?

No. Mepergan is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Mepergan come in?

Mepergan is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

Is Mepergan FDA-registered?

Mepergan is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA011730. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Mepergan been recalled by the FDA?

Mepergan has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Mepergan safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Mepergan a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.