Suspected acute meperidine toxicity in a dog

Observations A 22‐month‐old male neutered Coton De Tulear dog was presented for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy under general anesthesia. The anesthetic plan included premedication with intramuscular meperidine (4 mg kg −1 ) but meperidine was inadvertently administered at ten‐fold this dose. Within 5 minutes, the dog was unresponsive to external stimulation, and by 10 minutes post‐injection developed generalized signs of central nervous system (CNS) excitement. Initial therapy included inspired oxygen supplementation, and single intravenous (IV) doses of diazepam (0.68 mg kg −1 ) and naloxone (0.03 mg kg −1 ) to no effect. A second dose of diazepam (0.46 mg kg −1 , IV) abolished most of the signs of CNS excitement. General anesthesia was induced and the endoscopy performed. Time to extubation was initially prolonged, but administering naloxone (final dose 0.1 mg kg −1 , IV) to effect enabled extubation. After naloxone, the dog became agitated, noise sensitive, and had leg and trunk muscle twitches. Diazepam (0.30 mg kg −1 , IV) abolished these signs and the dog became heavily sedated and laterally recumbent. Naloxone administration was continued as a constant rate infusion (0.02 mg kg −1 hour −1 , IV) until approximately 280 minutes post‐meperidine injection, at which time the dog suddenly sat up. Occasional twitches of the leg and trunk muscles were observed during the night. The dog was discharged the next day appearing clinically normal. Conclusions Given that the CNS excitatory effects of normeperidine are not a μ opioid receptor effect, the use of naloxone should be considered carefully when normeperidine excitotoxicity is suspected. Benzodiazepines may be beneficial in ameliorating clinical signs of normeperidine excitotoxicity.