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Pethidine

This article is a stubmissing:
Subjective Effects
Pharmacology
Tolerance
History & Culture
Pethidine molecule structurePethidine molecule structure
Ethyl 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate
Meperidine, Demerol, Dolantin, Dolcontral
Psychoactive Class
Chemical Class

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold25-50 mg
Light50-100 mg
Moderate100-200 mg
Strong200-400 mg
Heavy400+ mg
Bioavailability
50-60%

Duration

Onset30-60 minutes
Peak4-6 hours
After Effects2-10 hours

Subjective Effects

Subjective Effects not written up yet

Reagent Testing

Expected colorimetric results for common reagent tests. Colors show reaction change over 1–2 minutes.

Froe(FR)
white → black2
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Pharmacology

Pharmacology not written up yet

Interactions

Dangerous

Highest risk

These combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.

5-HTPAlcoholBenzodiazepinesDXMGrapefruitKetamineMAOIsMXENitrous oxidePCPSNRIsSSRIsSerotonin releasersStimulantsTramadol

Caution

Use caution

These combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Synergistic effects may be unpredictable. Care should be taken when choosing to use this combination.

1,2-BenzodiazepineAbacavirAbametapirAbataceptAbemaciclib
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Tolerance

Tolerance not written up yet

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Extremely High

Chronic pethidine use is described as extremely addictive with high abuse potential and capable of causing psychological dependence, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.

Physical

High

Prolonged pethidine use may lead to morphine-type dependence with withdrawal symptoms, and pethidine can cause physical dependence.

Toxicity

Lethal Dosage

Pethidine has high toxicity relative to dose, can be fatal in overdose, and is potentially lethal with depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Severe overdose can cause coma or death without immediate medical attention.

respiratory and central nervous system

High doses and overdose may cause respiratory depression, abnormal breathing, unconsciousness, coma, cold clammy skin, hypotension, obtundation, and death.

neurologic

High doses may cause seizures, and chronic parenteral use has been associated with convulsive seizures.

serotonergic and autonomic

Serotonin syndrome has occurred with antidepressants and MAOIs and can include agitation, hyperpyrexia, hypertension, tachycardia, seizures, coma, and death.

pregnancy and lactation

Meperidine can pass through the placenta and enter breast milk.

Psychosis Risk

Moderate

Overdose can cause psychosis, and norpethidine is described as hallucinogenic and associated with delirium and dysphoria.

Seizure Risk

High

High doses may cause seizures through norpethidine accumulation, and serious interactions with MAOIs or tramadol can also produce convulsions.

History & Culture

History & Culture not written up yet

Legality

International

1961 Single Convention (as amended): Pethidine (meperidine), chemically 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (the same identity as ethyl 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate), is expressly in Schedule I; Schedule-I isomers, esters/ethers (unless in another Schedule), and their possible salts are also controlled. It is not in Schedule IV, and no pethidine preparation is listed in Schedule III.

1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances: Pethidine/meperidine and its stated chemical identity are not listed in any of Schedules I, II, III or IV in the complete current Green List; therefore the Convention's salts and stereoisomer provisions do not transfer control to pethidine.

1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic: Pethidine/meperidine and its stated chemical identity are not listed in either Table I or Table II in the complete current official Tables (as at 3 December 2024); no applicable class, derivative, isomer, salt, ester or preparation entry was identified. The separately listed piperidone/fentanyl-precursor entries do not establish control of pethidine.

By Country

Illegal1
Israel flagIsraelIllegal
Controlled / restricted1
Japan flagJapanRestricted
Prescription23
Argentina flagArgentinaPrescription only
Brazil flagBrazilPrescription only
Canada flagCanadaPrescription only
China flagChinaPrescription only
Czech Republic flagCzech RepublicPrescription only
Denmark flagDenmarkPrescription only
Finland flagFinlandPrescription only
France flagFrancePrescription only
Indonesia flagIndonesiaPrescription only
Ireland flagIrelandPrescription only
Mexico flagMexicoPrescription only
Netherlands flagNetherlandsPrescription only
New Zealand flagNew ZealandPrescription only
Philippines flagPhilippinesPrescription only
Poland flagPolandPrescription only
Portugal flagPortugalPrescription only
Singapore flagSingaporePrescription only
South Africa flagSouth AfricaPrescription only
South Korea flagSouth KoreaPrescription only
Spain flagSpainPrescription only
Turkey flagTurkeyPrescription only
United Arab Emirates flagUnited Arab EmiratesPrescription only
United Kingdom flagUnited KingdomPrescription only
Legal / decriminalized4
United States flagUnited StatesLegal (regulated)
Belgium flagBelgiumLegal (regulated)
Colombia flagColombiaLegal (regulated)
Switzerland flagSwitzerlandLegal (regulated)

References

Source Pages

  1. DrugBank
  2. Erowid
  3. Erowid: Meperidine Vault
  4. Isomer Design (TiHKAL/PiHKAL)
  5. PsychonautWiki
  6. TripSit Factsheets
  7. Wikipedia

Citations

  1. Ley 17.818; Resolución MSAS 2622/1988 (Lista I); Decreto 122/2026. argentina.gob.ar (n.d.). https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/resoluci%C3%B3n-2622-1988-306114/texto1
  2. Ley 17.818; Resolución MSAS 2622/1988 (Lista I); Decreto 122/2026. argentina.gob.ar (n.d.). https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-17818-208831
  3. Ley 17.818; Resolución MSAS 2622/1988 (Lista I); Decreto 122/2026. argentina.gob.ar (n.d.). https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/decreto-122-2026-423520/texto1
  4. Royal Decree of 6 September 2017 regulating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. ejustice.just.fgov.be (n.d.). https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/arrete/2017/09/06/2017031231/justel1
  5. Royal Decree of 6 September 2017 regulating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. ejustice.just.fgov.be (n.d.). https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/1921/02/24/1921022450/justel1
  6. Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998, Anexo I, Lista A1, atualização vigente nº 102 (RDC Anvisa nº 1.036/2026). gov.br (n.d.). https://www.gov.br/anvisa/pt-br/assuntos/medicamentos/controlados/lista-substancias1
  7. Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998, Anexo I, Lista A1, atualização vigente nº 102 (RDC Anvisa nº 1.036/2026). in.gov.br (n.d.). https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/resolucao-n-974-de-23-de-abril-de-2025-6260968971
  8. Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998, Anexo I, Lista A1, atualização vigente nº 102 (RDC Anvisa nº 1.036/2026). planalto.gov.br (n.d.). https://planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2004-2006/2006/lei/l11343.htm1
  9. Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Schedule I. laws-lois.justice.gc.ca (n.d.). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38.8/FullText.html1
  10. 国家药监局、公安部、国家卫生健康委公告(2025年第55号)《药用类麻醉药品目录(2025年版)》;《麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例》. yjj.sh.gov.cn (n.d.). https://yjj.sh.gov.cn/qtgzwj/20250728/80ad6017cd9d41daa4181ddb4a044c9c.html1

Further Reading

  1. Edwards et al. 1982 - Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Pethidine
  2. Gillman 2005 - MAOIs, Opioid Analgesics and Serotonin Toxicity
  3. Latta et al. 2002 - Meperidine: A Critical Review
  4. Meperidine - StatPearls NCBI
  5. Siegel et al. 1982 - Heroin Overdose Death and Drug-Associated Environmental Cues
  6. Walker & Zacny 1999 - Subjective Effects of Cumulative Opioid μ Agonist Doses

Article Status

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Recent changes7 human edits · latest

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24 January 2026

  1. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  2. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  3. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  4. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  5. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  6. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  7. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

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