Meperidine - What Is It Made Of?

What Is It Made Of?

Meperidine hydrochloride (the drug's full name) is a synthetic opioid. It is created through the reaction of two chemicals: dichlorodiethyl methylamine (pronounced di-KLO-ro-di-eh-thyl meh-thyl-A-mine) and benzyl cyanide, an oily, colorless liquid. The chemical name for the resulting white crystalline substance is ethyl 1-methyl-4-phenyl-isonipecotate hydrochloride.

Meperidine is synthesized exclusively from laboratory-made chemicals, and not from any part of the opium poppy. That is why it is called a totally synthetic opioid. By contrast, other well-known narcotics that imitate the effects of opium are said to be semi-synthetic opioids. These drugs are produced with one of the naturally occurring opiates as a starting material. Natural opiates include codeine and morphine. A chemical modification of codeine, another opiate, results in hydrocodone, a highly addictive but effective painkilling drug. By contrast, a chemical alteration of morphine results in heroin, a dangerous and highly addictive narcotic that has no legal use and none of the benefits of narcotic medications.