Meperidine Hydrochloride and Vaqta Pediatric

• Generic Name: meperidine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Demerol, Demerol HCl, Meperitab

A strong analgesic used in the relief of moderate to severe pain.

Usually, temporary relief of moderate to severe pain such as that associated with acute and some chronic medical disorders including renal or biliary colic, acute trauma, postoperative pain, and cancer.

Used to provide analgesia during diagnostic and orthopedic procedures and during labor.

For preoperative sedation and as a supplement to anesthesia.

Use as first-line opiate therapy is discouraged because of central excitatory toxicity of metabolite (normeperidine).

Because of extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver to normeperidine, the risk of excitatory toxicity is increased with oral administration of meperidine; therefore, oral therapy is discouraged.

Has been used to relieve the pain of MI, although probably not as effective as morphine sulfate.

In symptomatic treatment of acute pain, reserve opiate analgesics for pain resulting from severe injuries, severe medical conditions, or surgical procedures, or when nonopiate alternatives for relieving pain and restoring function are expected to be ineffective or are contraindicated. Use smallest effective dosage for shortest possible duration since long-term opiate use often begins with treatment of acute pain. Optimize concomitant use of other appropriate therapies. (See Managing Opiate Therapy for Acute Pain under Dosage and Administration.)

Use for chronic pain is discouraged because of short duration of effect and risk of accumulation of normeperidine metabolite and resultant central excitatory toxicity with repeated or large doses.

Used parenterally for preoperative sedation and as a supplement to anesthesia.

Used in patients with acute pulmonary edema for its cardiovascular effects and to allay anxiety.

Do not use in the treatment of pulmonary edema resulting from a chemical respiratory irritant.

• Generic Name: hepatitis a pediatric vaccine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Havrix Pediatric, Vaqta Pediatric

Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.

Hepatitis A is spread through contact with the stool (bowel movements) of a person infected with the hepatitis A virus. This usually occurs by eating food or drinking water that has become contaminated as a result of handling by an infected person.

The Vaqta Pediatric is used to help prevent this disease in children.

This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Vaccination with Vaqta Pediatric is recommended for all children who are 12 months of age or older. This vaccine is also recommended in children who travel to certain areas of the world where hepatitis A is a common disease.

Other risk factors for hepatitis in children include: receiving treatment for hemophilia or other bleeding disorders, or being in an area where there has been an outbreak of hepatitis A.

Like any vaccine, the Vaqta Pediatric may not provide protection from disease in every person.