The scientific name of Dulcolax is pethidine hydrochloride.
Pethidine hydrochloride is a synthetic opioid analgesic, acting on the same principle as morphine, activating opioid receptors to exert analgesic and sedative effects. At present, it is mainly applied to various kinds of severe pain such as trauma, postoperative, etc., administered before anesthesia, and visceral severe colic and other conditions.
However, it is worth noting that the routine use of pethidine hydrochloride for moderate-to-severe cancer pain is currently not advocated. This is because pethidine hydrochloride has a weaker sedative-analgesic effect than morphine and is of shorter duration and more neurotoxic. Moreover, the blood concentration of pethidine hydrochloride rises rapidly and is prone to psychiatric dependence, so pethidine hydrochloride is not recommended for routine use in cancer pain management.
Pethidine hydrochloride is dependent and addictive, and is a nationally controlled drug. The use of the drug should be strictly in accordance with the doctor’s requirements, and should not be used without authorization.