For ketamine, after how many minutes may a second dose be given if the pain score remains five or higher?

• A. 15 minutes
• B. 5 minutes
• C. 10 minutes
• D. 20 minutes

Answer: (A)

Reassessing after dosing is about giving the medicine time to work and checking safety before giving more. For ketamine used as analgesia, the protocol allows a second dose after 15 minutes if the pain score is still 5 or higher. This interval gives the initial dose a chance to take effect and lets you evaluate both the level of pain relief and potential side effects, such as dizziness or sedation. Giving a second dose sooner could lead to stacking before the first dose has produced full analgesia, while waiting longer than 15 minutes may leave significant pain untreated. So, 15 minutes balances effective relief with safety.