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Medication

Ketamine in US EMS protocols

209protocols
174named agencies
48states and regions
25indications
1,604dose entries
100% of 1,604machine-parsed

Includes 4 agencies outside the US.

IndicationSpread: box is the middle half, dot means most agreeRange
Agitation Adult100 to 300 mg median 250, n=13
Adult, weight-based1 to 5 mg/kg median 2.75, n=78
Pediatric, weight-based1 to 4 mg/kg median 2, n=35
Asthma / bronchospasm Adult, weight-based0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg median 0.5, n=5
Bradycardia Adult, weight-basedMost use 1 mg/kg range 0.5 to 3 mg/kg, n=5
Cardiac arrest Adult, weight-basedMost use 1 mg/kg range 0.5 to 3 mg/kg, n=5
Hyperactive delirium Adult, weight-based2 to 5 mg/kg median 4, n=32
Pediatric, weight-based1.5 to 5 mg/kg median 3, n=17
Other Adult25 to 150 mg median 50, n=19
Adult, weight-based0.5 to 3 mg/kg median 1.5, n=92
Pediatric, weight-based0.4 to 3 mg/kg median 1.1, n=70
Mild to moderate pain Adult10 to 40 mg median 18.75, n=31
Adult, weight-based0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg median 0.25, n=112
Pediatric, weight-based0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg median 0.275, n=86
Severe pain Adult, weight-based0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg median 0.3, n=30
Pediatric, weight-based0.1 to 0.45 mg/kg median 0.3, n=23
Post-intubation sedation Adult100 to 200 mg median 100, n=5
Adult, weight-based0.4 to 3 mg/kg median 1, n=43
Pediatric, weight-based0.5 to 3 mg/kg median 1, n=23
Procedural sedation Adult50 to 300 mg median 100, n=11
Adult, weight-based0.5 to 3 mg/kg median 1, n=50
Pediatric, weight-based0.5 to 3 mg/kg median 1, n=44
RSI induction AdultAll use 200 mg n=5
Adult, weight-based1 to 3 mg/kg median 2, n=97
Pediatric, weight-based1 to 3 mg/kg median 2, n=69
Seizure AdultAll use 100 mg n=11
Adult, weight-based1 to 3 mg/kg median 1.5, n=18
Pediatric, weight-based1 to 2 mg/kg median 1, n=21

Too few protocols to chart yet (protocols in brackets): ACS / chest pain (2), Atrial fibrillation with RVR (1), Eclampsia / pre-eclampsia (1), Head injury / TBI (1), Hypotension / shock (2), Post-ROSC care (1), Respiratory distress (2), Status epilepticus (2), SVT (2), Narrow-complex tachycardia (2), Wide-complex tachycardia (1), Trauma / hemorrhage (1), VF / pulseless VT (1)

Doses far off from what other protocols give are likely misreads, so they are left out until checked. How that works.

Named agencies with a page170

Agencies whose protocols are a public record are named here. Their own doses are on their own pages; this list carries no values.

Cite this

United States EMS Protocol Census, Ketamine: n=209 protocols from 174 named agencies / 48 states, as of 2026-10-31

MethodologyData licenseStudy your own protocol in the app

Training reference compiled from published protocols. Not a clinical order. Verify with your agency and medical director.