Pethidine is significantly less safe than other opioids due to its toxic metabolite norpethidine, which accumulates with repeated dosing and can cause seizures, tremors, and CNS excitation. It should not be used for more than 48 hours or at doses exceeding 600 mg per 24 hours. The drug has a particularly high risk of serotonin syndrome compared to other opioids and should never be combined with MAOIs, SSRIs, or other serotonergic drugs. Intravenous administration carries extreme risks and should only be done in medical settings with naloxone and respiratory support immediately available. Norpethidine accumulation is especially dangerous in patients with renal impairment.
Péthidine molecular structure diagram from the DrugsPRO substance library.
Also known as: Demerol, Dolantin, Meperidine, Dolcontral
Classification
Chemical: Medicine
Chemical: Opioid
Psychoactive: Depressant
Tag: Habit-Forming
Tag: Phenylpiperidine
Tag: substituted piperidine
Tag: Synthetic opioid
Effects
Physical Euphoria
Pain Relief
Sedation
Stimulation
Respiratory Depression
Itchiness
Cognitive Euphoria
Anxiety Suppression
Compulsive Redosing
Dream Potentiation
Euphoria
Mood Lift
Acuity Suppression
Decreased Libido
Appetite Suppression
Orgasm Suppression
Dulled Perception
Open Eye Visuals
Routes of Administration
Oral
Dosage
Threshold: 25-50 mg
Light: 50-100 mg
Common: 100-200 mg
Strong: 200-400 mg
Heavy: 400 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.5-1 h
Peak: 4-6 h
Offset: 2-4 h
After Effects: 2-10 h
Intramuscular
Dosage
Light: 25-50 mg
Common: 50-100 mg
Strong: 100-150 mg
Heavy: 150 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.17-0.25 h
Peak: 0.5-1 h
Offset: 1-2 h
After Effects: 1-6 h
Intravenous
Dosage
Light: 25-50 mg
Common: 50-75 mg
Strong: 75-100 mg
Heavy: 100 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.02-0.08 h
Peak: 0.08-0.17 h
Offset: 1-2 h
After Effects: 1-6 h
Subcutaneous
Dosage
Light: 25-50 mg
Common: 50-100 mg
Strong: 100-150 mg
Heavy: 150 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.17-0.33 h
Peak: 0.5-1 h
Offset: 1-2 h
After Effects: 1-6 h
Harm Reduction
Check interactions before mixing substances, pay attention to dose spacing and hydration, and treat all dosage guidance as approximate rather than guaranteed safe.
Sources
Substance data is aggregated from the following public harm-reduction and reference sources.
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Pethidine - Guide des substances DrugsPRO
Pethidine: Pethidine is significantly less safe than other opioids due to its toxic metabolite norpethidine, which accumulates with repeated dosing and can cause seizures, tremors, and CNS excitation. It should not be used for more than 48 hours or at doses exceeding 600 mg per 24 hours. The drug ha
