Meperidine (also known as Pethidine , Pethidin , Meperidol and Dolantin) a phenylpiperidine derivative, is a synthetic opioid analgesic. Many of its pharmacologic properties and indications are similar to those of morphine, Meperidine is preferred to morphine for obstetric use because its rapid onset of action and shorter duration usually permit greater flexibility in maternal analgesia, possibly with less effect on neonatal respiration. Like other opioid drugs, pethidine has the potential to cause physical dependence or addiction. It may be more likely to be abused than other prescription opioids, perhaps because of its rapid onset of action. When compared with oxycodone, hydromorphone, and placebo, pethidine was consistently associated with more euphoria, difficulty concentrating, confusion, and impaired psychomotor and cognitive performance when administered to healthy volunteers. The especially severe side effects unique to pethidine among opioids—serotonin syndrome, seizures, delirium, dysphoria, tremor—are primarily or entirely due to the action of its metabolite, norpethidine.
The Multi-Drug Rapid Test Panel yields a positive result when the concentration of Normeperidine in urine exceeds detective level.