What is the ketamine dose for adult pain management?

What is the ketamine dose for adult pain management?

• A. 5-10 mg IV/IO
• B. 15-30 mg IV/IO
• C. 40-60 mg IV/IO
• D. 100 mg IV/IO

Answer: (B)

Ketamine given for adult pain relief is used at a sub-dissociative dose, meaning enough to relieve pain without producing full anesthesia. The analgesic IV/IO dose is about 0.1 to 0.3 mg per kilogram of body weight. That range translates to roughly 15–30 mg for many adults, which is why this dose is commonly used in EMS for pain control. Doses well below this (like 5–10 mg) may be inadequate for meaningful analgesia, while higher amounts (40–60 mg or 100 mg) increase the risk of dissociation, sedation, and airway or hemodynamic effects. So the 15–30 mg range provides effective pain relief while preserving airway reflexes and safety in most adult patients.

Ketamine given for adult pain relief is used at a sub-dissociative dose, meaning enough to relieve pain without producing full anesthesia. The analgesic IV/IO dose is about 0.1 to 0.3 mg per kilogram of body weight. That range translates to roughly 15–30 mg for many adults, which is why this dose is commonly used in EMS for pain control. Doses well below this (like 5–10 mg) may be inadequate for meaningful analgesia, while higher amounts (40–60 mg or 100 mg) increase the risk of dissociation, sedation, and airway or hemodynamic effects. So the 15–30 mg range provides effective pain relief while preserving airway reflexes and safety in most adult patients.