We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Ketorolac?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,984
Share

Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that bears some resemblance to other medications like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Unlike these drugs, ketorolac or brand names like Toradol® are often not available as over the counter medicines. Due to serious side effects, this particular NSAID is usually prescription-only and tends to be employed for very short periods of time to treat pain, or in some cases, it is used as a nasal spray or in eye drop form for seasonal allergies. Most people would either receive an injection of Toradol® or get it in pill form, and it generally isn’t used for more than five days because this increases risk of side effects.

Like most NSAIDs, ketorolac can have serious side effects. It can cause gastrointestinal upset or bleeding, it may be damaging to the liver or kidneys, and in some cases, it poses risk for heart dysfunction. People who are advised not to take this drug include this with heart, liver or kidney impairment, anyone with gastrointestinal illnesses like Crohn’s disease, those who will drink alcohol during use, and anyone with any type of bleeding disorder or who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

This drug has a history of adverse interactions with a number of medications. People should not use this drug if they are using other NSAIDS, drugs like aspirin, or anti-clotting drugs like warfarin or Plavix®. Probenecid, which is often prescribed to treat gout, and pentoxifylline, which may treat circulation disorders, are also not advised if patients take Toradol®. Other medications may interact with the drug, and patients should be prepared to provide doctors with an exhaustive list of all over the counter or prescribed medicines and herbs they use, prior to accepting a new prescription.

For many healthy patients, short-term use of ketorolac is non-problematic, though it should be noted that some countries refuse to sell this medicine due to the high risk of side effects. Those countries that do approve its use recommend it for just a few days at a time, and usually for no more than five days, especially in its oral or injected form. Due to its limited use, most people may not be very familiar with this medicine, and might only encounter it if they need quick pain relief in an injectable form. Doctors’ offices may stock it to deal with painful injuries.

The basic side effects that are not harmful include gastrointestinal upset, which could have features like heartburn, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, gas, or vomiting. Some people experience a headache or will notice ringing in the ears from ketorolac. Others receiving this drug feel drowsy or dizzy after taking it. Unusual side effects that require immediate medical attention include vomiting blood, tarry stools, minimal urination, rash, allergic reaction, jaundice, stroke or heart attack symptoms, seizures, and muscle weakness.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-ketorolac.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.