Pethidine
BASICS: DOSAGE:
• Dependant on patient weight
• Pethidine Hydrochloride
• 25-150mg
• Analgesic—opioid, alkaloid
• 4 hourly
• POM, CD authorised by PGD or
• Also dependant on age and condition
midwives exemption
GUIDANCE:
• Moderate to severe pain
• NICE and RPS have guidance on safe handling,
• Comes usually in ampoules but also storage and administration of CD’s
tablets • Must be appropriately trained and know the
• Given by injection—IM process of checking the CDs
CONTRAINDICATIONS: SIDE EFFECTS:
• Existing respiratory depression • Nausea
• Renal impairment • Vomiting
• Pre-existing morphine/opioid addiction • Respiratory depression
• Compromised fetus • Bradycardia
• Close to delivery • Sedative - some people don’t like this
• Interacts with diamorphine • Dependence
• Epilepsy - metabolises to norpethidine • Convulsions after overdose
which can antagonise seizures
PHARMACODYNAMICS: RISKS TO FETUS/NEONATE:
• Binds to opioid receptors— • Crosses placental barrier within 2 minutes
pharmacological effects mostly on CNS of administration and is in amniotic fluid in
where it acts as an analgesic and induces 30 minutes
a sedative effect. • Bradycardia, respiratory depression,
• Respiratory depression may be withdrawal symptoms, slow excretion by
antagonized by naloxone and nalorphine neonatal liver - jaundice
• Depresses suck reflex—baby may take
longer to feed.
BASICS: DOSAGE:
• Dependant on patient weight
• Pethidine Hydrochloride
• 25-150mg
• Analgesic—opioid, alkaloid
• 4 hourly
• POM, CD authorised by PGD or
• Also dependant on age and condition
midwives exemption
GUIDANCE:
• Moderate to severe pain
• NICE and RPS have guidance on safe handling,
• Comes usually in ampoules but also storage and administration of CD’s
tablets • Must be appropriately trained and know the
• Given by injection—IM process of checking the CDs
CONTRAINDICATIONS: SIDE EFFECTS:
• Existing respiratory depression • Nausea
• Renal impairment • Vomiting
• Pre-existing morphine/opioid addiction • Respiratory depression
• Compromised fetus • Bradycardia
• Close to delivery • Sedative - some people don’t like this
• Interacts with diamorphine • Dependence
• Epilepsy - metabolises to norpethidine • Convulsions after overdose
which can antagonise seizures
PHARMACODYNAMICS: RISKS TO FETUS/NEONATE:
• Binds to opioid receptors— • Crosses placental barrier within 2 minutes
pharmacological effects mostly on CNS of administration and is in amniotic fluid in
where it acts as an analgesic and induces 30 minutes
a sedative effect. • Bradycardia, respiratory depression,
• Respiratory depression may be withdrawal symptoms, slow excretion by
antagonized by naloxone and nalorphine neonatal liver - jaundice
• Depresses suck reflex—baby may take
longer to feed.
