dissociative
Ketamine dosage 2026: safe ranges by route and weight.
Ketamine has 3 documented routes of administration. The most common is insufflated. Always start at the lowest dose range and wait the full onset window before redosing.
Dose ranges by route.
Insufflated
- Threshold
- 10 mg
- Light
- 20–50 mg
- Common
- 50–100 mg
- Strong
- 100–150 mg
- Heavy
- 150 mg
Oral
- Threshold
- 40 mg
- Light
- 75–150 mg
- Common
- 150–300 mg
- Strong
- 300–450 mg
- Heavy
- 450 mg
Intramuscular
- Threshold
- 10 mg
- Light
- 15–40 mg
- Common
- 40–75 mg
- Strong
- 75–125 mg
- Heavy
- 125 mg
| Route | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insufflated | 10 mg | 20–50 mg | 50–100 mg | 100–150 mg | 150 mg |
| Oral | 40 mg | 75–150 mg | 150–300 mg | 300–450 mg | 450 mg |
| Intramuscular | 10 mg | 15–40 mg | 40–75 mg | 75–125 mg | 125 mg |
Start at the bottom. Body chemistry, tolerance, and combinations all matter.
Duration timeline.
Insufflated
total ~ 340 min- Onset
- 5–10 min
- Peak
- 30–45 min
- Offset
- 30–45 min
- After
- 60–240 min
Oral
total ~ 600 min- Onset
- 10–30 min
- Peak
- 45–90 min
- Offset
- 60–120 min
- After
- 2–6h
Intramuscular
total ~ 245 min- Onset
- 1–5 min
- Peak
- 20–30 min
- Offset
- 20–30 min
- After
- 60–180 min
Bodyweight quick formula
For a 70 kg adult, divide the total mg dose by 70 to get your mg/kg ratio. Most published ranges assume this reference weight. If you weigh significantly less, reduce proportionally; significantly more does not always mean linearly higher doses.
Related pages
FAQ.
- What is a safe Ketamine dose?
- A "safe" dose depends on body weight, tolerance, set and setting. Start at the threshold or light range for your chosen route and do not redose until onset is complete.
- How do I calculate Ketamine dose by weight?
- For substances where bodyweight matters: divide the mg amount by your weight in kg to get the mg/kg ratio. Most common dose data assumes a 70–80 kg adult.
- What happens if I take too much Ketamine?
- Exceeding the "heavy" range significantly increases risk of adverse effects, medical emergency, or overdose. Harm reduction starts with knowing the ranges.
- How long does Ketamine last?
- Duration varies by route. The timeline section below shows onset, peak, offset and after-effects for each route.
- Can I mix Ketamine with other substances?
- Many combinations are dangerous. Check the interaction checker tool before combining anything. Never combine on a first experience.
- Is Ketamine dosage the same for all routes?
- No. Bioavailability differs significantly by route — intranasal and IV routes typically require lower doses than oral for equivalent effect.
- Should I weigh my Ketamine dose?
- Always. A milligram scale (0.001g precision) is essential for most substances. Volumetric dosing with a solvent is the gold standard for sub-10mg doses.