Editing Pethidine (section)

==Medical uses==
Pethidine is the most widely used opioid in labour and delivery.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bricker L, Lavender T | title = Parenteral opioids for labor pain relief: a systematic review | journal = American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | volume = 186 | issue = 5 Suppl Nature | pages = S94-109 | date = May 2002 | pmid = 12011876 | doi = 10.1016/S0002-9378(02)70185-3 }}</ref> It has fallen out of favour in some countries, such as the United States, in favour of other opioids, due to its potential drug interactions, especially with serotonergics, and its neurotoxic metabolite, [[norpethidine]].<ref name="AMH">{{cite book | veditors = Rossi S | isbn = 978-0-9805790-9-3 | title = Australian Medicines Handbook | place = Adelaide | publisher = The Australian Medicines Handbook Unit Trust | year = 2013 | edition = 2013 }}</ref> It is still commonly used in the United Kingdom and New Zealand,<ref>{{Cite web|title = WHO {{!}} Parenteral opioids for maternal pain relief in labour|url = http://apps.who.int/rhl/archives/CD007396_olayemio_com/en/index.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150620184220/http://apps.who.int/rhl/archives/CD007396_olayemio_com/en/index.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 20, 2015|website = apps.who.int|access-date = 2015-06-20}}</ref> and was the preferred opioid in the United Kingdom for use during labour, but has been superseded somewhat by other strong semi-synthetic opioids (e.g. [[hydromorphone]]) to avoid serotonin interactions since the mid-2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Pain relief in labour - Pregnancy and baby guide - NHS Choices|url = http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pain-relief-labour.aspx|website = www.nhs.uk|access-date = 2015-06-20|archive-date = 2015-06-12|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150612105823/http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pain-relief-labour.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref> 

Pethidine is the preferred painkiller for [[diverticulitis]], because it decreases intestinal intraluminal pressure.<ref>Blueprints - Family Medicine (3rd edition)</ref> Pethidine is the preferred drug for the management of shivering during [[therapeutic hypothermia]], as it provides the greatest reduction in the shivering threshold.<ref name="pmid22135340">{{cite journal | vauthors = Logan A, Sangkachand P, Funk M | title = Optimal management of shivering during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest | journal = Critical Care Nurse | volume = 31 | issue = 6 | pages = e18–30 | date = December 2011 | pmid = 22135340 | doi = 10.4037/ccn2011618  }}</ref>

Before 2003, it was on the [[World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines]], the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Essential Medicines WHO Model List (revised April 2002)|edition=12th|location=Geneva, Switzerland|publisher=World Health Organization |website=apps.who.int |date=April 2002|access-date=6 September 2017|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/67335/1/a76618.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Essential Medicines WHO Model List (revised April 2003)|location=Geneva, Switzerland|publisher=World Health Organization|website=apps.who.int|date=April 2003|access-date=6 September 2017|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/68168/1/a80290.pdf|edition=13th}}</ref>