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StatPearls, LLC

  • Analgesics
  • Anesthetics, General
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Ketamine
  • Pain Management

Ketamine

Ketamine hydrochloride, commonly known as ketamine, is a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a general anesthetic either on its own or in combination with other medications. The medication is highly effective for brief medical procedures that do not necessitate skeletal muscle relaxation and can be utilized as a pre-anesthetic for the induction of general anesthesia when combined with other general anesthetic agents. Furthermore, ketamine is FDA-approved for enhancing the effects of low-potency substances such as nitrous oxide. In addition to its anesthetic applications, ketamine proves invaluable in pain management, addressing treatment-resistant depression, managing suicidal ideation, and treating refractory status epilepticus, with specific indications awaiting FDA approval. The dosage determines the application and resulting effects of the drug, leading to variations in the prescribing protocol. This versatility renders ketamine valuable in both anesthesia and pain management. Ongoing research explores the potential applications of ketamine in psychiatry across all isomeric forms. At elevated doses, ketamine operates primarily as a sedative rather than an analgesic agent. This activity reviews ketamine’s indications, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions, monitoring strategies, drug-drug interactions, and clinical toxicology for healthcare professionals to facilitate the enhancement of clinical best practice guidelines.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

AAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsNursingUp to 1.5 creditsPharmacyUp to 1.5 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABOS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABA — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 1.5 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 11 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • Credit · Up to 1.5 credits
  • MOC · Up to 1.5 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

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