Ketamine for Sedation in the Intensive Care Unit
Sedation depresses the awareness of the ICU patients to reduce their response to invasive procedures, lessens patient-ventilator dyssynchrony, prevents agitation, and decreases stress and oxygen consumption. Currently, at OMC, ketamine is mainly being used for refractory status epilepticus and pain control (or hyperalgesia) with available dosing guidelines and protocol. No standard dosing is available for other indications such as sedation in the ICU. It is not one of sedative options in the sedation order set. If the medical team needs a sedative alternative for those patients who cannot tolerate fentanyl, propofol, dexmedetomidine, or midazolam, it is imperative for the team and pharmacists to be aware of the benefits of adding ketamine in certain patient populations as well as dosing, administration, and monitoring of ketamine. This activity will provide pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with sedation protocols, ketamine dosing comparisons for different indications, ketamine administration standards, suggested dosing, and target population to use ketamine for sedation in the ICU.
Target Audience
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy technicians
Learning Objectives
Pharmacist learning objectives
- Describe the indications for sedation and how to appropriately monitor sedative therapies in the ICU
- Analyze the recent trials evaluating the use of ketamine for sedation in the ICU
- Design a therapeutic plan utilizing ketamine for ICU sedation
Pharmacy technician learning objectives
- Identify different agents used for sedation in the ICU
- Recognize different routes of administration of ketamine used for various indications and settings
Additional Information
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Relevant financial relationships: Planning committee members and the presenter have nothing to disclose
The presenter will discuss off-label use of drugs

Available Credit
- 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
- 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
- 1.00 General CEU – Attendance