Ketamine Dosage and Administration Guidelines

Adult Dosing

For procedural sedation, lower doses of 1-1.5 mg/kg IV are often effective, as recommended by the American College of Emergency Physicians 1
In pediatric patients, IV ketamine at 1.5 mg/kg has been shown to be more effective than 1.0 mg/kg for procedural sedation, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2

For perioperative pain management, ketamine is recommended at a maximum dose of 0.5 mg/kg/h after anesthesia induction, followed by continuous infusion at 0.125-0.25 mg/kg/h, as suggested by the American Society of Anesthesiologists 3, 4
This regimen is particularly beneficial for surgeries with high risk of acute or chronic postoperative pain, and for patients with vulnerability to pain, especially those taking long-term opioids or with opioid addiction, as recommended by the American Pain Society 3, 4

Continuous monitoring of vital signs is essential, including ECG, pulse oximetry, and regular blood pressure measurements, as recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiologists 5