Circulatory Effects of Pethidine in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

The effect of meperidine on the peripheral circulation

“…5 In unanesthetized dogs, however, Goldberg and associates 4 reported increased pulmonary and peripheral resistance following the injection of meperidine into the right atrium. In patients with myocardial infarction, Rees and associates 9 observed a short-lasting increase of blood pressure, similar to our finding. In other studies with human beings there was no significant change in blood pressure following the injection of meperidine.…”

Pharmacological and clinical importance of narcotic antagonists and mixed antagonists‐use in cardiology.

“…BP is rarely affected by normal doses, but with intravenous injection an abrupt, brief fall in BP may be observed (Reynolds & Randall, 1957;WoodSmith et al, 1973). Rees et al (1967) gave pethidine 100 mg intravenously to eight patients with acute myocardial infarction and noted a biphasic response with an initial slight increase in arterial mean BP, systemic vascular resistance and heart rate, and then from 10-15 min a decline in these variables to below control levels. Half of these patients experienced distressing dizziness and nausea.…”

“…Half of these patients experienced distressing dizziness and nausea. Rees et al (1967) have concluded that 'because of its circulatory effects, pethidine does not seem to be the ideal drug for the relief of pain of myocardial infarction'. An initial increase in mean aortic BP after pethidine has also been reported in healthy individuals by Prescott et al (1949) and in obstetric patients by Gallen & Prescott (1944).…”