Ketorolac tromethamine (
Toradol®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed for the short-term relief of moderate to severe pain. Short-term is defined as no longer than five days for adults. Children should not receive more than one dose of ketorolac.
Ketorolac is most often used to treat pain following a procedure but may also be used for such things as pain caused by
kidney stones,
back pain, or cancer pain.
Ketorolac belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or
NSAIDs for short.
Side Effects of Ketorolac
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with ketorolac. Yet not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. When people do develop side effects, in many cases they are minor, meaning that they require no treatment or are easily treated by the patient or his or her healthcare provider. However, there are some less common but serious side effects that can occur with this drug.
The risk of side effects with ketorolac seems to be related to the amount of the medication you are taking and other factors, including:
- Your age
- Your general health
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be taking.
Common side effects of ketorolac include (but are not limited to):
Less common but serious side effects include:
- Unexplained bleeding
- Stomach or intestinal problems, including bleeding, an ulcer, or a hole (known as a perforation)
- Liver damage
- Kidney problems, including kidney failure
- Congestive heart failure
- Allergic reaction
- Unexplained rash.
These possible serious side effects can lead to life-threatening complications or even loss of life.
(Click Side Effects of Ketorolac to learn more about specific side effects, including information about signs of serious side effects to look out for.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
Before taking ketorolac, let your healthcare provider know if you have:
- Asthma
- Congestive heart failure
- Liver disease or liver failure
- Kidney disease or kidney failure
- Bleeding problems (or if you are taking medicine that decreases your blood's ability to clot)
- Diabetes
- Nasal polyps
- Seizures
- A history of hallucinations
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (also known as SLE or lupus)
- Stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, or a history of either condition
- Any allergies to medicines, including aspirin or other NSAID pain medicines.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
- Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Toradol and Pregnancy)
- Are breastfeeding
- Drink alcohol frequently
- Smoke
- Are having or have recently had heart surgery.
Also, tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), probenecid, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Ketorolac and other NSAIDs are thought to work by inhibiting the action of certain hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. These hormones are called prostaglandins.
It is thought that blocking the effects of prostaglandins is what makes ketorolac useful for reducing pain. In clinical studies, ketorolac was as effective as lower doses of narcotics at treating pain. When it was combined with narcotic pain medicines (such as morphine), it decreased the amount of narcotics needed. Also, pain relief was significantly better in those receiving ketorolac and morphine compared to those receiving morphine alone.
Pain relief usually begins about 30 minutes after the dosage is received. The maximum effect of ketorolac occurs within two to three hours and lasts, on average, for four to six hours.
When and How Do I Take It?
Some general considerations for when and how to take the medication include the following:
- Ketorolac comes in tablet form. It also can be given by injection or through an intravenous line (IV).
- To avoid an upset stomach, take your ketorolac with food or milk.
- Do not break, chew, or crush the tablets.
- For ketorolac to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. It will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose of ketorolac your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your weight
- Your age
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be taking.
As with any medication, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Drug Interactions With Ketorolac
Ketorolac can potentially interact with a number of medicines.
People who take too much ketorolac may have overdose symptoms that could include (but are not limited to):
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain (or stomach pain)
- Excessive sleepiness
- Bleeding
- Kidney failure
- Coma.
If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
Store ketorolac tablets at room temperature in a dry place. Keep ketorolac should in an airtight container.
As with all medications, keep ketorolac out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your ketorolac as scheduled, take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is close to the next scheduled dose, skip the missed one and continue with normal dosing. Never take a double dose.
Toradol is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals. Several companies (such as Mylan Laboratories and Teva Pharmaceuticals) manufacture generic forms of ketorolac.
Ketorolac tablets are available in one strength -- ketorolac 10 mg.
Ketorolac injections are available in several strengths, including:
- Ketorolac 15 mg per mL vial
- Ketorolac 30 mg per mL vial
- Ketorolac 60 mg per 2 mL vial.
Ketorolac is available as a generic.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print