Medical Articles

Pethidine

Opiate analgesics

Description

Pethidine is an opioid pain-relief medicine that was once widely used in Australia for pain caused by a range of different conditions. Pethidine is now less often used because newer, safer opioids are available. Pethidine is sometimes used to reduce labour pain in childbirth.

Mechanism of action

Pethidine is predominantly a meu agonist, and it exerts its actions on the CNS and the neural elements in the bowel. In equianalgesic doses, pethidine produces as much sedation, respiratory depression and euphoria as does morphine. A few patients may experience dysphoria.

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Mechanism of action

Pethidine is predominantly a meu agonist, and it exerts its actions on the CNS and the neural elements in the bowel. In equianalgesic doses, pethidine produces as much sedation, respiratory depression and euphoria as does morphine. A few patients may experience dysphoria.

This page is restricted. Please Login / Register to view this page.