Ketamine(key’ tah meen)
Ketalar
PREGNANCY CATEGORY B
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE C-III
Drug class
Nonbarbiturate anesthetic
Therapeutic Actions
Selectively interrupts association pathways of the brain before producing somatesthetic sensory blockade; may selectively depress the thalamoneocortical system. Produces an anesthetic state with profound analgesia, normal pharyngeal-laryngeal reflexes, normal or slightly enhanced skeletal muscle tone, CV and respiratory stimulation, and occasionally a transient and minimal respiratory depression
Indications
Sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures that do not require skeletal muscle relaxation
Induction of anesthesia prior to general anesthesia
Supplementation for low-potency anesthetic agents
Unlabeled use: Postanesthetic shivering
Contraindications and Cautions
Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to components of the drug, significant hypertension.
Use cautiously in chronic alcoholism, pregnancy, lactation.
Available Forms
Injection—10, 50, 100 mg/mL
Dosages
Adults
Induction of general anesthesia: 1–4.5 mg/kg IV slowly, or 1–2 mg/kg IV at 0.5 mg/kg/min, or 6.5–13 mg/kg IM; 10 mg/kg IM will usually produce 12–25 min of anesthesia.
Induction of general anesthesia in cardiac surgery: 0.5–1.5 mg/kg IV at 20 mg every 10 sec.
Maintenance of general anesthesia: Repeat in increments of one-half to full induction dose; may be supplemented by diazepam.
Pediatric patients
Dosage must be determined for each patient individually based on condition, other drugs being used. Recommended dose is not available.
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