Pethidine

For an informed discussion with your doctor or pharmacist. This information collection is not a clinically validated interaction checker. Missing data do not establish safety. Do not change or stop prescribed medicines on the basis of this information. The findings apply to the specific conditions studied; laboratory and animal studies cannot be directly extrapolated to humans.

Active substance: Pethidine

Examples of brand names: Dolantin [DE]

ATC code: N02AB02

Main use (for orientation): Severe pain

Documented research summary

Cannabis users required more additional pethidine analgesia in one study. Cannabis exposure was not randomised; no established specific THC/CBD pharmacokinetic effect.

Uncertainties and limitations

The observed additional requirement is not proof of metabolic induction. Other substances/chronic tolerance and perioperative factors are possible explanations.

Research is limited to the specified date and protocol; it is not globally exhaustive. Brand names and authorisations do not constitute a complete current market overview.

Structured assessment

Category: Direct pair finding

Cannabinoid scope: 28 register names in the documented search family; neither 28 individual clinical trials nor a blanket assessment of all cannabinoids.

Evidence status: Pair-specific evidence, distinguished in the individual findings

Mechanism / drug context: Association between cannabis use and postoperative pethidine requirement; mechanism unknown.

Type of supporting material: See the separate original findings

Clinical interpretation: Requires individual assessment by a doctor or pharmacist. Lack of evidence does not establish safety; no dosage or discontinuation advice is provided.

Context: Meperidine = pethidine, DEMEROL hydrochloride injection; active parent substance, not a prodrug.

Drug context and gaps in search results are not measured interactions. The source role below describes which statement the source actually supports.

Source role [CA_L_D0150]: Drug context

Statement supported: Supports dosage form, metabolism and/or known risks; alone, it does not substantiate a cannabinoid–drug pair finding.

Source: DEMEROL (MEPERIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE) INJECTION, SOLUTION [HOSPIRA, INC.] [CA_L_D0150]

Source role [CA_P_24175487]: Pair finding

Statement supported: Cannabis users required more postoperative rescue analgesia with pethidine.

Source: Postoperative analgesia in the Jamaican cannabis user. [CA_P_24175487]

Scope of review: Individual research with documented title/abstract screening and targeted review of original sections. This is not exhaustive evidence that interactions are absent.

Unresolved source question: The complete stored individual review, label review, literature screening, conclusion and uncertainties were read. Targeted sections of original information were rechecked; no claim is made that all product information or full texts were completely revalidated.

Separately recorded findings

1 separately recorded finding. Each statement applies to its documented study context.

Cannabis use – composition unspecified – clinical signals

Finding ID: V6_D0150_1

Type of result: Finding within the documented study context

Observation: Cannabis users required more postoperative rescue analgesia with pethidine.

Mechanism: Association; mechanism unresolved

Study type: Prospective study; non-randomised comparison by use status

Context studied: 73 people: 42 users, 31 non-users; Jefferson et al. 2013.

Clinical interpretation: Potentially relevant perioperatively.

Limitations and uncertainties: Use status not randomised, cannabinoids unspecified, no pharmacokinetic measurement.

Original sources for this finding: Postoperative analgesia in the Jamaican cannabis user. [CA_P_24175487]

References and access status

[CA_L_D0150] DEMEROL (MEPERIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE) INJECTION, SOLUTION [HOSPIRA, INC.]

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Hospira, Inc.

Year: 2026

Source type: Current published human-use SPL / product information

Source access – 23 October 2026: Source destination was accessible when checked.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

[CA_P_24175487] Postoperative analgesia in the Jamaican cannabis user.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Jefferson DA, Harding HE, Cawich SO, Jackson-Gibson A.

Year: 2013

Source type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Journal Article

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2013.803644

PMID: 24175487

Source access – 23 October 2026: Source destination was accessible when checked.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

[CA_P_39199820] Perioperative Analgesic and Sedative Effects of Cannabidiol in Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy.

Original source / bibliographic reference

Authors: Zanelli GR, Vieira GBM, Souza RVM, Aguiar AJA, Cassu RN.

Year: 2024

Source type: research-article; Journal Article

DOI: 10.3390/ani14162286

PMID: 39199820

Source access – 23 October 2026: Source destination was accessible when checked.

Bibliographic attribution or source identity cross-checked.

DOI – publisher access (access restrictions may apply)

Research as of 23 October 2026. Not all original full texts could be reviewed in full. Source accessibility and the strength of scientific evidence must be assessed separately. An accessible link does not establish medical approval; a bibliographic record with an abstract does not replace the original full text.

Drug search and explanation of the evidence · Guide: cannabinoids and medicines · Author and responsibility