Antibodies that bind an 125I-tyramyl derivative of N-succinylanileridine have been produced in animals immunized with N-succinylanileridine-hemocyanin conjugate. Several congeners and metabolites have been tested as competitors of this antigen-antibody reaction. The concentrations (in picomoles) required for 50% inhibition have been found to be: anileridine (0.2), meperidine (3.5), piminodine (3.8), diphenoxylate (20.5), normeperidine (20.0), meperidine acid (45,000) and anileridine acid (3,400). Although ester hydrolysis results in changes in inhibiting capacities on the order of 10(4), major structural changes in the substituent on the nitrogen of the piperidine ring are not readily recognized by the antibody. This radioimmunoassay can be used to study a variety of N-substituted phenylpiperidine carboxylic acid esters by relating the results to the standard curve obtained for the drug under investigation. For all practical purposes, alphaprodine, morphine and methadone do not interfere with the assay.