For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:
Intravenous
4 mg per kg of body weight
4 mg per kg of body weight once every day
A dose of 0.3 mg/kg bodyweight given intravenously at induction of anaesthesia, gives sleep lasting from 4 to 5 minutes.
In children under 15 years the dosage may need to be increased: a supplementary dose of up to 30% of the normal dose for adults is sometimes necessary to obtain the same depth and duration of sleep as obtained in adults.
Dosage should be adjusted to the individual patient response and to clinical effects.
Since etomidate has no analgesic action, appropriate analgesics should be used in procedures involving painful stimuli.
Hypnosis can be prolonged by additional injections of etomidate.
Do not exceed a total dose of 60 mg.