Ketamine injection dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes ketamine injection’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how it’s given. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for ketamine.

Ketamine injection is a generic version of the brand-name drug Ketalar.

Form and strengths of ketamine

Ketamine injection comes as follows:

• Form: a solution that you receive by injection into your muscle or by infusion into your vein
• Strengths: 10 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL), 50 mg/mL, 100 mg/mL

Dosage of ketamine

This article describes the recommended dosages for ketamine injection. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of ketamine injection that’s best for you.

Usual recommended dosages of ketamine in adults

Ketamine injection is approved for use in adults. The dosage depends on body weight in kilograms (kg). It also depends on the route of administration and whether it’s given before or during surgery. For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

Your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of ketamine injection that gives the desired outcome.

To induce sleep before surgery

The table below shows typical dosages of ketamine injection used to induce sleep before surgery in adults. Dosages are in milligrams per kg (mg/kg).

For example, assume a person weighs 70 kg (about 154 lb). For intramuscular injection before surgery, they would receive 455–910 mg of ketamine. Or for IV infusion before surgery, they would receive 70–315 mg of ketamine.

To help maintain sleep during surgery

Ketamine may also be used during surgery to help maintain sleep. For this use, your doctor may repeat a portion of the dose or the full dose that you had received before surgery. Your doctor will give these doses during surgery as often as needed.

If you have questions about receiving ketamine injections during surgery, talk with your doctor.

Dosages of ketamine in children

Ketamine injection is approved for use in children ages 16 years and older. The dosage depends on body weight in kilograms (kg). It also depends on the route of administration and whether it’s given before or during surgery. For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

Your child’s doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of ketamine injection that gives the desired outcome.

To induce sleep before surgery

The table below shows typical dosages of ketamine injection used to induce sleep before surgery in children. Dosages are in milligrams per kg (mg/kg).

For example, assume a child weighs 45 kg (about 99 lb). For intramuscular injection before surgery, the child would receive 293–585 mg of ketamine. Or for IV infusion before surgery, the child would receive 45–203 mg of ketamine.

To help maintain sleep during surgery

Ketamine may also be used during surgery to help maintain sleep. For this use, your child’s doctor may repeat a portion of the dose that your child had received before surgery. Or they may repeat the full dose that your child had received. Your child’s doctor will give these doses during surgery as often as needed.

If you have questions about your child receiving ketamine injections during surgery, talk with their doctor.

Dosage adjustments for ketamine

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of ketamine injection based on several factors. These include:

• other medications you may take
• how well your liver and kidneys are working
• your age
• other health conditions you may have

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about ketamine injection and its dosage.

Is ketamine used long term?

No, doctors don’t typically prescribe ketamine injection as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended for short-term use before or during surgery.

If you have questions about receiving ketamine injection, talk with your doctor.

Is there a risk of withdrawal with ketamine?

It’s not likely that you’ll have withdrawal symptoms from ketamine. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent. Dependence means your body needs the drug to function as usual.)

But these symptoms could occur if the drug is misused. (Misuse is taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it.) Because ketamine is given by healthcare professionals, the risk of misuse is low.

If you have concerns about withdrawal symptoms and ketamine, talk with your doctor.

How ketamine is used

A healthcare professional will give you ketamine injection before or during surgery. Specifically, the drug may be given to induce sleep before surgery. Or it may be given to help maintain sleep during surgery. You’ll receive it by injection into your muscle or by infusion into your vein.

Ketamine coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for ketamine when using the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for ketamine injection. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Would a different dosage of ketamine injection increase or decrease my risk of side effects?
• Does my dosage of ketamine injection need to change because of other drugs I take?
• Will I need a different dosage of ketamine injection if I have certain health conditions?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.