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Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous meperidine in neonates and infants
Author(s) -
Pokela MarjaLeena,
Olkkola Klaus T,
Koivisto Maila,
Ryhänen Pauli
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1992.153
Subject(s) - pethidine , pharmacokinetics , medicine , volume of distribution , anesthesia , respiratory distress , pharmacodynamics , mechanical ventilation , pharmacology , analgesic
The pharmacokinetics of meperidine (pethidine) was studied in 21 infants who received a single intravenous dose of 1 mg/kg after surgery (n = 18) or during mechanical ventilation because of respiratory distress (n = 3). Eleven patients were younger than 1 week old, 10 patients were aged from 3 weeks to 5 months, and five of the patients were premature. The pharmacokinetics of meperidine varied greatly between the subjects, with a median elimination half‐life of 10.7 hours (range, 3.3 to 59.4 hours), median clearance of 8.0 ml/kg/min (range, 1.8 to 34.9 ml/kg/min), median volume of the central compartment of 2.4 L/kg (range, 0.5 to 4.8 L/kg), and median steady‐state volume of distribution 7.2 L/kg (range, 3.3 to 11.0). The great interindividual variability in meperidine pharmacokinetics should be taken into consideration when meperidine is administered to neonates. Although no life‐threatening or serious side effects were observed in this study, appropriate care should be exercised when prescribing meperidine for this age group. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1992) 52, 342–349; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1992.153