Shortage of injectable meperidine

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable meperidine. Hospira cites increased demand and manufacturing delays as the reasons for the shortage of their brand name product, Demerol. West-Ward produces the generic product, but no pre-loaded syringes. I was given Demerol in the mid-seventies by a dental surgeon, and my only experience with painkillers since then has been for dental procedures. I have never since been given Demerol (meperidine hydrochloride). I am curious to know of other people's experience. Has this drug been administered to you before and/or after surgery? at childbirth? for chronic pain such as fibromyalgia?

This is an opioid narcotic analgesic for moderate to severe pain and was at one time the drug of choice for addicted doctors and nurses. Is that still the case, or is that decades-old news?

The Life Cycle of a Drug: New Formulation

Referring back to the bar graph in my original post for this series, the next industry strategy to be addressed is extension of the life cycle of a drug by production of a new formulation. Nucynta was approved in 2008 and Nucynta ER [extended release] is the new formulation just approved. There are people in chronic pain who are best served by an opioid narcotic analgesic that can be taken once daily.

Some controversy attends this approval because previous members of this class of very addictive drugs have been abused by crushing them so that immediate uptake of a large dose becomes possible. Nucynta ER has been formulated to make this kind of abuse more difficult.

J&J Gets FDA Approval Of Potentially Addictive Opioid Nucynta

Nucynta ER Approved For Moderate To Severe Chronic Pain Control