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Adult medication reference

Adult post-intubation infusion reference

Starting weight-based ranges for post-intubation analgesia and sedation.

Weight-based infusion ranges
MedicationPublished rangeContext and cautions
Propofol infusion5–50 mcg/kg/min IVStart low and titrate. Avoid reflexive boluses or escalation in hypotension; use the minimum effective dose.
Ketamine infusion0.5–1 mg/kg/hr IVCommon off-label post-intubation reference. Verify local formulary, monitoring, and analgesia strategy.
Midazolam infusion0.04–0.2 mg/kg/hr IVAccumulation and hypotension can occur. Midazolam is not an analgesic.
Dexmedetomidine infusion0.2–0.7 mcg/kg/hrNot an adequate sole agent immediately after paralysis. Bradycardia and hypotension may occur.
Cautions, guidance & disclaimers
Dosing weight: Confirm actual, ideal, adjusted, or lean weight for the medication and local protocol. For a weight between rows, calculate from the formula rather than rounding.

Use the local smart-pump library, medication record, pharmacist, and current institutional protocol to determine the final infusion rate and concentration.

Sources, limitations, and review record

Source links checked 10 September 2026. Medication content review date: 23 July 2026.

ACEP: Critical Issues in Adult ED Endotracheal Intubation (January 2026)DailyMed: Etomidate labelDailyMed: Ketamine labelDailyMed: Rocuronium labelDailyMed: Succinylcholine labelDailyMed: Propofol labelDailyMed: Fentanyl citrate labelDailyMed: Midazolam labelDailyMed: Vecuronium labelDailyMed: Dexmedetomidine label

Verify the route, dosing weight, dose range, maximum, contraindications, age restrictions, organ function, local formulary, and product in hand.

Verify the dose, route, concentration, maximum, and patient-specific considerations against current institutional protocols and product labeling.

About this resource
Website creator: Kyle Brown, MD Airway educational contributors: Andrew Pirotte, MD; Kyle Brown, MD; Reba Hodge, MD; Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP; Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP; Joshua Mohess Clinical review: Emergency medicine faculty review completed. Medication content reviewed by Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP, and Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP. Last reviewed: 2026-07-23 Next scheduled review: 2027-01-23 Designed for: EM residents, emergency physicians, EMS clinicians, airway educators, and simulation faculty Important: Educational resource and clinical-reference guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment. Website contact: [email protected]

Educational and clinical reference material. Verify against current institutional protocols, product labeling, and clinical judgment.

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