Clinical pharmacokinetics applied to patients with intractable pain: Studies with pethidine

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The minimum effective analgetic blood concentration (MEAC) of pethidine i.v. was identified in 3 patients with intractable pain. In 2 patients this value remained the same whether the pethidine was given i.v., orally or rectally. In the 3rd patient, whose enteral bioavailability was only 20%, the MEAC was not obtained. I.m. administration reliably achieved the MEAC and was useful clinically. During the study period of 3-12 mo., the individual patient''s MEAC remained similar. Two patients developed dependence on, and tolerance to, pethidine, but neither the dependence nor the tolerance appeared to be related to the MEAC. These studies confirm the importance of clinical pharmacokinetic measurements in the investigation and treatment of patients with intractable pain.