title: Pharmacokinetics of meperidine in pregnancy.
abstract: The disposition of meperidine was studied in 11 term pregnant humans after the administration of a single 50 mg intravenous dose of meperidine through 48 h post-injection. Half-lives of the rapid and terminal elimination phases were calculated as 2.3 and 13.3 h, respectively. These values are much greater than previously reported half-lives which were based on data collected over less than 8 h after injection. An accurate value for t1/2 beta may be particularly important in sequential dosing of analgesic medication. These pharmacokinetic constants calculated on data collected through 48 h in this study may have important clinical correlates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, Houston 77030-2703.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Bucovaz
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000139:chemically induced; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008614:Meperidine