Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Pethidine (meperidine) is a synthetic opioid once widely used for pain, including in labour. It has largely fallen out of favour because its breakdown product norpethidine can build up and cause seizures, and it interacts dangerously with MAO inhibitors. It is still used for shivering after anaesthesia and in some countries in labour. It is sold as Demerol, among other names.
Pethidine is broken down by carboxylesterases and by CYP2B6, CYP3A4 and CYP2C19, which form norpethidine. The few gene studies on it looked at CYP2C19, CYP3A5 and UGT1A1 for its levels, and at FIP1L1 and SERINC5 for side effects. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Meperidine. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
FIP1L1 rs113100019: Level 3. Toxicity: adverse events. 1.
SERINC5 rs185462714: Level 3. Toxicity: adverse events. 1.
rs11049274: Level 3. Toxicity: adverse events. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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