Pethidine 10mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
A narcotic analgesic that can be used for the relief of most types of moderate to severe pain, including postoperative pain and the pain of labor.
Strict controls: safe custody, register required
Legal requirements and restrictions
These are medicines with high potential for misuse but with accepted medical uses. Subject to the strictest controls.
Legal requirements
- Must be stored in a locked controlled drugs cabinet
- Pharmacy must keep a controlled drugs register
- Prescriptions valid for 28 days only
- Prescriptions must include specific details (dose, form, strength, total quantity)
- Cannot be emergency supplied by pharmacists
Other medicines in this category
Morphine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Amphetamines
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
View Drug Analysis Profile
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Pethidine
Browse all iDAP reports
Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
View EudraVigilance report
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Pethidine
About EudraVigilance
Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
1 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
400 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Pethidine
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(4)
Sickle cell disease: managing acute painful episodes in hospital (CG143)
Single-port laparoscopic nephrectomy (HTG278)
Intrapartum care (NG235)
Caesarean birth (NG192)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
85 found
Half-life
2-11 minutes
Mechanism
Meperidine is primarily a kappa-opiate receptor agonist and also has local anesthetic effects.
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
12 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
50-60%
Half-life
2-11 minutes
Protein binding
60-80%
Volume of distribution
Metabolism
Elimination
5-30%
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1834 interactions
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
One study reported that 80-85% of the drug administered intramuscularly was absorbed within 6 hours of intragluteal injection in health adults; however, inter-individual variation and patient-specific variable appear to cause considerable variations in absorption upon IM injection.
Meperidine and normeperidine are found in acidic urine, while the free and conjugated forms of meperidinic and normperidinic acids are found in alkaline urine.
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
Signaling leads to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. Inhibits neurotransmitter release by reducing calcium ion currents and increasing potassium ion conductance. Plays a role in the perception of pain.
Plays a role in mediating reduced physical activity upon treatment with synthetic opioids. Plays a role in the regulation of salivation in response to synthetic opioids. May play a role in arousal and regulation of autonomic and neuroendocrine functions
PMID:21376300 PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:28126851 PMID:28228639 PMID:36959261 PMID:7679115 PMID:7681588 PMID:7685113
NMDARs participate in synaptic plasticity for learning and memory formation by contributing to the long-term potentiation (LTP) .
PMID:26875626
Channel activation requires binding of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate to the GluN2 subunit, glycine or D-serine binding to the GluN1 subunit, plus membrane depolarization to eliminate channel inhibition by Mg(2+) .
PMID:21376300 PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:27164704 PMID:28095420 PMID:28105280 PMID:28126851 PMID:28228639 PMID:36959261 PMID:38538865 PMID:7679115 PMID:7681588 PMID:7685113
NMDARs mediate simultaneously the potasium efflux and the influx of calcium and sodium (By similarity). Each GluN2 or GluN3 subunit confers differential attributes to channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitization kinetics, pH sensitivity, Ca2(+) permeability, and binding to allosteric modulators PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:36309015 PMID:38598639
PMID:24272827 PMID:24863970 PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:27839871 PMID:28095420 PMID:28126851 PMID:38538865 PMID:8768735
Participates in synaptic plasticity for learning and memory formation by contributing to the long-term depression (LTD) of hippocampus membrane currents (By similarity). Channel activation requires binding of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate to the GluN2 subunit, glycine or D-serine binding to the GluN1 subunit, plus membrane depolarization to eliminate channel inhibition by Mg(2+) .
PMID:24272827 PMID:24863970 PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:27839871 PMID:28095420 PMID:28126851 PMID:38538865 PMID:8768735
NMDARs mediate simultaneously the potasium efflux and the influx of calcium and sodium (By similarity). Each GluN2 subunit confers differential attributes to channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitization kinetics, pH sensitivity, Ca2(+) permeability, and binding to allosteric modulators .
PMID:26875626 PMID:28095420 PMID:28126851 PMID:38538865 PMID:8768735
In concert with DAPK1 at extrasynaptic sites, acts as a central mediator for stroke damage.
Its phosphorylation at Ser-1303 by DAPK1 enhances synaptic NMDA receptor channel activity inducing injurious Ca2+ influx through them, resulting in an irreversible neuronal death (By similarity)
PMID:20890276 PMID:23933818 PMID:23933819 PMID:23933820 PMID:24504326 PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:28242877 PMID:36117210 PMID:38538865 PMID:8768735
NMDARs participate in synaptic plasticity for learning and memory formation by contributing to the slow phase of excitatory postsynaptic current, long-term synaptic potentiation, and learning (By similarity). Channel activation requires binding of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate to the GluN2 subunit, glycine or D-serine binding to the GluN1 subunit, plus membrane depolarization to eliminate channel inhibition by Mg(2+) .
PMID:23933818 PMID:23933819 PMID:23933820 PMID:24504326 PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761 PMID:27288002 PMID:28095420 PMID:28105280 PMID:28126851 PMID:28182669 PMID:29644724 PMID:38307912 PMID:8768735
NMDARs mediate simultaneously the potasium efflux and the influx of calcium and sodium (By similarity). Each GluN2 subunit confers differential attributes to channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitization kinetics, pH sensitivity, Ca2(+) permeability, and binding to allosteric modulators .
PMID:26875626 PMID:26919761
Participates in the synaptic plasticity regulation through activation by the L-glutamate releaseed by BEST1, into the synaptic cleft, upon F2R/PAR-1 activation in astrocyte (By similarity)
PMID:26875626 PMID:36309015
Participates in synaptic plasticity for learning and memory formation by contributing to the slow phase of excitatory postsynaptic current and long-term synaptic potentiation (By similarity). Channel activation requires binding of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate to the GluN2 subunit, glycine or D-serine binding to the GluN1 subunit, plus membrane depolarization to eliminate channel inhibition by Mg(2+) .
PMID:26875626 PMID:36309015
NMDARs mediate simultaneously the potasium efflux and the influx of calcium and sodium (By similarity). Each GluN2 subunit confers differential attributes to channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitization kinetics, pH sensitivity, Ca2(+) permeability, and binding to allosteric modulators PMID:26875626
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:8898203 PMID:9038218 PMID:35507548
Catalyzes the flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic to the exoplasmic leaflet of the apical membrane. Participates mainly to the flop of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, beta-D-glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins .
PMID:8898203
Energy-dependent efflux pump responsible for decreased drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant cells PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:9038218
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
Appears to function in modulating the activity of the immune system during the acute-phase reaction
ATC N02AB02
ATC N02AB72
ATC N02AB52
ATC N02AG03
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Show
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Meperidine
Matched from: Pethidine
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
9118
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
11358
ChemSpider
3918
BindingDB
50026752
ZINC
ZINC000000001681
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8154
GenAtlas
OPRK1
GeneCards
OPRK1
GenBank Gene Database
U11053
GenBank Protein Database
532060
Guide to Pharmacology
318
UniProt Accession
OPRK_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4584
GenAtlas
GRIN1
GeneCards
GRIN1
GenBank Gene Database
D13515
GenBank Protein Database
219920
Guide to Pharmacology
455
UniProt Accession
NMDZ1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4586
GenAtlas
GRIN2B
GeneCards
GRIN2B
GenBank Gene Database
U90278
GenBank Protein Database
1899202
Guide to Pharmacology
457
UniProt Accession
NMDE2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4585
GenAtlas
GRIN2A
GeneCards
GRIN2A
GenBank Gene Database
U09002
GenBank Protein Database
558749
Guide to Pharmacology
456
UniProt Accession
NMDE1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4587
GenAtlas
GRIN2C
GeneCards
GRIN2C
GenBank Gene Database
L76224
GenBank Protein Database
1196449
Guide to Pharmacology
458
UniProt Accession
NMDE3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4588
GenAtlas
GRIN2D
GeneCards
GRIN2D
GenBank Gene Database
U77783
GenBank Protein Database
2444026
UniProt Accession
NMDE4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1950
GenAtlas
CHRM1
GeneCards
CHRM1
GenBank Gene Database
X52068
GenBank Protein Database
34451
Guide to Pharmacology
13
UniProt Accession
ACM1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1951
GenAtlas
CHRM2
GeneCards
CHRM2
GenBank Gene Database
M16404
GenBank Protein Database
177990
Guide to Pharmacology
14
UniProt Accession
ACM2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1952
GenAtlas
CHRM3
GeneCards
CHRM3
GenBank Gene Database
X15266
GenBank Protein Database
32324
Guide to Pharmacology
15
UniProt Accession
ACM3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1953
GenAtlas
CHRM4
GeneCards
CHRM4
GenBank Gene Database
M16405
GenBank Protein Database
61970253
Guide to Pharmacology
16
UniProt Accession
ACM4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1954
GenAtlas
CHRM5
GeneCards
CHRM5
GenBank Gene Database
M80333
GenBank Protein Database
177988
Guide to Pharmacology
17
UniProt Accession
ACM5_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8156
GenAtlas
OPRM1
GeneCards
OPRM1
GenBank Gene Database
L25119
GenBank Protein Database
452073
Guide to Pharmacology
319
UniProt Accession
OPRM_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11049
GenAtlas
SLC6A3
GeneCards
SLC6A3
GenBank Gene Database
M96670
GenBank Protein Database
553260
Guide to Pharmacology
927
UniProt Accession
SC6A3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11048
GenAtlas
SLC6A2
GeneCards
SLC6A2
GenBank Gene Database
M65105
GenBank Protein Database
189258
Guide to Pharmacology
926
UniProt Accession
SC6A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11050
GenAtlas
SLC6A4
GeneCards
SLC6A4
GenBank Gene Database
X70697
GenBank Protein Database
36433
Guide to Pharmacology
928
UniProt Accession
SC6A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1863
GenAtlas
CES1
GeneCards
CES1
GenBank Gene Database
M73499
Guide to Pharmacology
2592
UniProt Accession
EST1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2621
GeneCards
CYP2C19
GenBank Gene Database
M61854
GenBank Protein Database
181344
Guide to Pharmacology
1328
UniProt Accession
CP2CJ_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2615
GeneCards
CYP2B6
GenBank Gene Database
M29874
GenBank Protein Database
181296
Guide to Pharmacology
1324
UniProt Accession
CP2B6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2625
GenAtlas
CYP2D6
GeneCards
CYP2D6
GenBank Gene Database
M20403
GenBank Protein Database
181350
Guide to Pharmacology
1329
UniProt Accession
CP2D6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2596
GenAtlas
CYP1A2
GeneCards
CYP1A2
GenBank Gene Database
Z00036
Guide to Pharmacology
1319
UniProt Accession
CP1A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8498
GenAtlas
ORM1
GeneCards
ORM1
GenBank Gene Database
X02544
GenBank Protein Database
757907
UniProt Accession
A1AG1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:40
GenAtlas
ABCB1
GeneCards
ABCB1
GenBank Gene Database
M14758
GenBank Protein Database
307180
Guide to Pharmacology
768
UniProt Accession
MDR1_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: