What is the typical IV dose range of ketamine used for induction?

• A. 0.5–1 mg/kg IV
• B. 1–2 mg/kg IV
• C. 2–3 mg/kg IV
• D. 0.1–0.2 mg/kg IV

Answer: (B)

The main idea is the dosing used to induce anesthesia with ketamine given IV. For induction, an IV dose of about 1–2 mg/kg is standard because it quickly produces dissociative anesthesia within seconds to a minute while typically preserving spontaneous breathing and airway reflexes. This range reliably achieves the needed level of anesthesia with a balance of rapid onset and predictable recovery.

Choosing a lower range like 0.5–1 mg/kg may not reliably depth-induce anesthesia in many patients. A higher range such as 2–3 mg/kg can deepen the anesthesia and make recovery longer, plus increase the risk of adverse effects like emergence phenomena, tachycardia, hypertension, and excessive secretions. Very small doses around 0.1–0.2 mg/kg are used for analgesia or subdissociative sedation, not for full induction.

So, the typical IV induction dose is 1–2 mg/kg.