• General anesthesia induction:
    • Slow IV 1-4.5mg/kg *1 OR 5-2mg/kg if adjuvant drugs used e.g. midazolam
    • OR
    • IM 6.5-13mg/kg *1 OR 4-10 mg/kg if adjuvant drugs used e.g. midazolam
  • General anesthesia maintenance:
    • 1-0.5mg/min IV continuous infusion OR
    • IV 0.5-4.5mg/kg/dose PRN OR
    • IM 3.25-13mg/kg/dose PRN
  • Moderate-severe acute pain (Off-label):
    • IV 0.1-0.35mg/kg/dose *1 OR 0.1-1 mg/kg/h PRN
  • Moderate-severe chronic pain (Off-label):
    • IV 0.5-2mg/kg/h OR 1-0.35mg/kg/dose *1

Injection: 50mg/mL

Do not give 100 mg/mL preparation undiluted

General anesthetic

It antagonizes N-methyl-D-aspart (NMDA) receptors in the CNS, producing dissociative analgesia and sedation

  • Sialorrhea
  • Anorexia
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Elevated BP
  • Elevated HR
  • Diplopia
  • Nystagmus
  • Lacrimation
  • Fasciculations
  • Depressed reflexes
  • Emergence delirium
  • Bradycardia
  • Hypotension
  • Cystitis
  • Hypersensitivity to components
  • Hypertension
  • Stroke
  • Intracranial mass
  • Intracranial hemorrhage
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Phenelzine
  • Tranylcypromine

                          Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Not recommended
Breastfeeding Unknown; weigh risk vs benefit
Schedule Controlled
BRAND NAME STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Brevinaze 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Pharmax India Reddys Pharma
Ketajex 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Elda International Reddys Pharma
Ketamax 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Troikaa Harley’s Ltd
Ketamine 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Umedica Labs Unisel Ltd
Ketamine 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Rotexmedica GmbH Nairobi Pharma
Ketamine 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Dawa Ltd Dawa Ltd
Ketamine Fresenius 500mg/10mL Injection 10’s Fresenius Kabi Surgipharm Ltd
Ketanir 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Aculife Healthcare Unisel Ltd
Ketavit 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Reddys Pharma Reddys Pharma
Pentyl 50mg/mL Injection 10mL Advanced Chemical Industries Radiance Pharma
Verket 50mg/mL Injection 10mL M/S Verve Human Care Generics Africa