A double-blind study comparing meptazinol and pethidine for pain relief in labour.

A double-blind comparison of meptazinol 100 mg and pethidine 75 mg as analgesics during the first stage of labour was undertaken in 199 patients. Injections were allowed to be repeated at intervals of 2 h to a maximum of three doses. There were only minor differences between the two drugs with regard to pain relief and no differences in the need for supplementary epidural and pudendal blocks and neonatal status and behaviour. It is concluded that meptazinol and pethidine are of equal clinical value as analgesic injections during the first stage of labour.