Elvis' Medical Bible - PDR '77

[Mondstaub]

a page from the PDR - Elvis' Pharmaceutical Bible
Demerol (Merperide): a severe painkiller, comparable with Morphine.

Elvis started using Demerol in the early 60's (tablets) and switched more and more to liquid Demerol (injections) since the summer of 1973.
...
So if Elvis thought that oral intake (syrup and tablets) was less effective, this pretty much confirms why he changed from tablets to injections (parenteral).

...

But if you read the last paragraph Intravenous Use, you can read that rapid intravenous injections of Demerol are very dangerous (even leading to cardiac arrest) and that the patient must lay down. And that it should not be injected if no narcotic antagonist and fascilities for controlled respiration are available.

...

Parenteral use doesn't necessesarily mean intravenous injections.

Meperidin (Pethidin hydrochlorid) can also be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

[TheKing]

Parenteral use doesn't necessesarily mean intravenous injections.

Meperidin (Pethidin hydrochlorid) can also be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Klar , ob subcutan (unter die Haut) oder in den Muskel (intramusculär), aber knallen tut es schon am Besten direkt in die Blutbahn...

[Mondstaub]

hier geht es nicht darum wie es am besten knallt, sondern darum, wie Elvis sein Demerol konsumiert hat ... ich denke nicht, daß er es iv gespritzt hat ... gibt es dafür irgendwelche Anhaltspunkte?

[TheKing]

hier geht es nicht darum wie es am besten knallt, sondern darum, wie Elvis sein Demerol konsumiert hat ... ich denke nicht, daß er es iv gespritzt hat ... gibt es dafür irgendwelche Anhaltspunkte?

Ich bin davon überzeugt, dass es Elvis ganz genau darum ging, dass es schon scheppert.

[Mondstaub]

ich wiederum glaube eher, daß es ihm darum ging, den Vorhang langsam zuzuziehen ...

[marquardt72]

Zu dieser Art von Anwendung steht aber sicher nichts auf dem Beipackzettel!

[gast-20090821]

Parenteral use doesn't necessesarily mean intravenous injections.

You are correct, I deliberately did not mention the other routes as you mentioned (IM and SC route) because I was not sure if other people were familiar with these terms. However, when more frequent use was needed it was good practice to prefer the IM route (injecting into large muscle). Nevertheless, as the use of Demerol could result in respiratory depression (severe breathing problems), it should be used with extreme caution.

[phyllis]

Elvis Pharmacy book

Hi E-Cat
Thank you for this information. Too bad Elvis life seemed to be up and down after the split from Pris. Elvis also suffered from inner loneliness.
A body can only take so much abuse before the toll takes your life. So sad he coud not find true happiness.

The doctors who allowed these drugs to be obtained by Elvis should have never been allowed to practice again. So if anyone is truly responsible for Elvis dying it is these "OK ELVIS doctors'. I am just glad and thankful for the time he was with us and they joy he brought. There is not a star out there today who would allow you to come to thier homes and sign autographs for you.

a page from the PDR - Elvis' Pharmaceutical Bible

[Mondstaub]

as a matter of fact it does make a huge difference how opioids are administered, especially concerning the occurance of severe side effects
such as breathing problems … when given subcutaneously or intramuscularly sudden respiratory depression rarely occurs …
it might be possible as a retarded reaction caused by accumulation (often a result from delaying distributive factors followed by
inappropriately frequent application) ... anyways …

So, how on earth could Dr. Shapiro prescribe bottles of liquid Demerol knowing that the injection of Demerol should be monitored in a clinical setting ?
And how is it possible that non medical trained amateurs like Ricky, David (Stanley) - even Linda would inject him (Revelations of the Memphis Maffia). It seems we must take some of these stories with a grain of salt.

I find it quite hard to believe Elvis had Demerol administered intraveneously on such an unprofessional level the way you suggested
in your first posting … is there any real evidence for this?

[TheKing]

I think this we had to ask the witnesses, as I remember it was rarely enough said that Elvis became Injections...but when he returned from califormia where this doctor gave him demerol shots Elvis broke down with breathdepression...those problems occured a couple of times, that would point at IV.

[burroughs]

ob er nun den grossen, dicken, schweren vorhang schnell oder langsam zugezogen hat.. er hat genau gewusst, aus welchem *stoff* er war

[gast-20090821]

Hi E-Cat
Thank you for this information.

You're welcome Phyllis!

I see you are from Long Beach - I lived in Laguna Beach for a while..not too far away..those were the days...

the occurance of severe side effects such as breathing problems … when given subcutaneously or intramuscularly sudden respiratory depression rarely occurs …

Yes, but respiratory depression was and still is the most serious side effect when Demerol is used in high dosage - as was the case (see next paragraph) - by either oral intake (tablets / syrup), intramusculair or subcutaneous injections...and this effect is not limited to IV injections only.

Demerol caused Elvis' such breathing problems that he was admitted to the Baptist Memorial Hospital just after his divorce. This is also when Dr. Nick found out that Elvis was addicted to Demerol.

(source : Tennessee Board Of Medical Examiners Hearing of Dr. Nick).

[TheKing]

So no proof for IV...but what does it matter? He took too much, no matter what way he took it. This topic is very interessting for me..please keep up the good work on this, E-Cat!

[gast-20090821]

This topic is very interessting for me..please keep up the good work on this, E-Cat!

Correct, no hard evidence for IV as IM and SC and oral overdose could also result in severe breathing problems...but since Shapiro injected Elvis daily prior to his hospitalisation, frequent Demerol shots suggest that IM injections were preferred over SC for many medical reasons. Nevertheless, risky because one member of his entourage - when stoned - had difficulties identifying the right tissue...(source: Dr. Elliot / Baptist Memorial Hospital)

[Mondstaub]

Yes, but respiratory depression was and still is the most serious side effect when Demerol is used in high dosage - as was the case (see next paragraph) - by either oral intake (tablets / syrup), intramusculair or subcutaneous injections...and this effect is not limited to IV injections only.

well nobody said that ... I already explained in my posting prior to this how it might be possible by other parenteral routes ...

I really don't believe Elvis did iv.drug abuse ... or maybe it's just that I simply don't want to

to me that is not an irrelevant detail to be asserted here without substance and discussed like a subsidary matter ... and I find it rather strange that nobody seems to mind besides me ...