What is the induction dose of etomidate?

What is the induction dose of etomidate?

• A. 0.2-0.4 mg/kg IV
• B. 1-2 mg/kg IV
• C. 0.02-0.04 mg/kg IV
• D. 2-4 mg/kg IV

Answer: (A)

For etomidate, the induction dose is the amount needed to rapidly produce hypnosis with minimal cardiovascular change. The standard IV induction dose is about 0.2–0.4 mg/kg (commonly around 0.3 mg/kg). This range provides rapid onset of unconsciousness within seconds while preserving blood pressure and heart rate better than many other induction agents. Doses outside this window either fail to reliably induce anesthesia (too low) or cause excessive sedation and risks such as apnea and hemodynamic instability (too high). The remaining options lie outside the established induction range: 1–2 mg/kg is far too high for induction, subtherapeutic 0.02–0.04 mg/kg would not induce anesthesia, and 2–4 mg/kg would be an overdose with dangerous respiratory effects.

For etomidate, the induction dose is the amount needed to rapidly produce hypnosis with minimal cardiovascular change. The standard IV induction dose is about 0.2–0.4 mg/kg (commonly around 0.3 mg/kg). This range provides rapid onset of unconsciousness within seconds while preserving blood pressure and heart rate better than many other induction agents. Doses outside this window either fail to reliably induce anesthesia (too low) or cause excessive sedation and risks such as apnea and hemodynamic instability (too high). The remaining options lie outside the established induction range: 1–2 mg/kg is far too high for induction, subtherapeutic 0.02–0.04 mg/kg would not induce anesthesia, and 2–4 mg/kg would be an overdose with dangerous respiratory effects.