Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection Shortage Update
Areazine synthesizes this FDA drug-shortage notice directly from FDA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The FDA reports a current shortage of Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection, with some presentations available and others unavailable due to manufacturing delays.
What this FDA drug-shortage notice tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by FDA on April 7, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Drug Shortages - determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what mitigations (alternative therapies, allocation timelines, manufacturer guidance) are available and which agency holds oversight.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are drug-shortage, fda, medication, Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection.
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection Shortage
What's in Shortage
The generic drug name is Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection. The brand name is DEMEROL. The dosage form is Injection. The current status is a shortage, which was initially posted on 05/30/2025 and last updated on 03/27/2026. The therapeutic category is Analgesia/Addiction.
Which Manufacturers Are Affected
The affected manufacturer is Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company. Their availability status for various presentations is as follows:
- Demerol, Injection, 50 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1181-30): Available
- Demerol, Injection, 50 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1178-30): Unavailable, with Next Delivery: April 2026; Estimated Recovery: June 2026; Shortage per Manufacturer: Manufacturing Delay
- Demerol, Injection, 25 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1176-30): Unavailable, with Next Delivery and Estimated Recovery: June 2026; Shortage per Manufacturer: Manufacturing Delay
- Demerol, Injection, 50 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1418-01): Unavailable, with Next Delivery and Estimated Recovery: December 2027
- Demerol, Injection, 100 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1180-69): Unavailable, with Next Delivery and Estimated Recovery: December 2027
- Demerol, Injection, 25 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1362-01): Unavailable, with Next Delivery and Estimated Recovery: December 2027
- Demerol, Injection, 75 mg/1 mL (NDC 0409-1179-30): Unavailable, with Next Delivery and Estimated Recovery: December 2027; Shortage per Manufacturer: Manufacturing Delay Manufacturer contact information: 844-646-4398.
Why There's a Shortage
For some presentations, the shortage is due to manufacturing delays. No specific reason was provided for others.
What Patients Should Do
Patients experiencing issues with obtaining this medication should talk to their pharmacist or healthcare provider to check availability. They can also contact the manufacturer for more information. Please remember that patients should consult their healthcare provider for any medical advice or decisions regarding their treatment; this article does not provide specific recommendations or alternatives.
Source
This information is from the FDA Drug Shortage Database.
Original source: FDA Official Notice ↗
Related Drug Shortages
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Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this FDA drug-shortage notice: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.
Similar body length
Nearest notices by article body length (2,144 characters here).
Similar severity timing
Same severity (medium) notices issued closest in time to April 7, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this FDA drug-shortage notice.