Plasma Concentration and Metabolism of Phenoperidine in Man

Kelvin Chan, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

Abstract

The plasma concentrations of phenoperidine were measured in five patients during general anaesthesia. The concentration of the drug decreased rapidly between 2 and 40 min and then declined more slowly. Detectable concentrations of phenoperidine were present in plasma for at least 3 h. In the five patients, the distribution half-life of the drug ranged from 3.19 to 14.23 min and the climination half-life from 47.31 to 162.30 min. Unchanged phenoperidine and two identified metabolites (pethidine and norpethidine) were present in urine.