Ketorolac
Description
Ketorolac is used in the short-term management of moderate to severe pain. This medicine is not recommended in patients with severe kidney injury. Do not take this medicine if you have any bleeding disorder or have a known allergy to this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ketorolac
- Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
- Unexpected weight gain
- Skin rash
- Mouth ulcers
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased urine output
- Yellow colored eyes or skin
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Pain at the injection site
Uses of Ketorolac
What is it prescribed for?
- Moderate to severe pain
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed in 30 to 60 minutes after an oral dose and 10 minutes after an intramuscular injection.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 4 to 6 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Alcohol should not be consumed while taking this medicine. Symptoms of stomach bleeding (such as the presence of dried and coffee colored blood in cough or stools) should be reported to the doctor immediately.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended in breastfeeding women.
Allergy
Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Ketorolac.
Asthma
Not recommended in patients with a history of NSAID-induced asthma, rhinitis, and urticaria.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)
Not recommended in patients with recent heart surgery.
Gastro-intestinal bleeding
Not recommended in patients with peptic ulcer disease or any gastrointestinal bleeding disorders.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended in breastfeeding women.
General warnings
Gastro-intestinal bleeding
Ketorolac may cause severe bleeding when taken for a long time. Elderly population with a history of gastrointestinal disease are at a higher risk. Any symptoms of blood in stools and vomiting should be informed to the doctor without delay.
Impaired kidney function
Ketorolac is not recommended in patients with severe kidney injury. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary. The dose should be adjusted based on the Creatinine clearance.
Impaired liver function
Ketorolac is known to cause liver injury. The baseline of liver enzymes should be obtained before starting the treatment. Inform the doctor if you have any prior history of liver disease. Any symptoms like nausea, vomiting, feeling tired or yellowing of the skin or eyes should be informed to the doctor without delay.
Effect on heart
Ketorolac can have adverse effects on heart, especially after a prolonged duration of use. It could increase the risk of diseases like stroke and heart attack which may be fatal.
Missed Dose
The missed dose can be taken as soon as you remember. However, the missed dose should be skipped if it is almost the time for the next dose.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Drinking alcohol with this medicine substantially increases the risk of stomach bleeding.
Instructions
Alcohol should not be consumed while taking this medicine. Symptoms of stomach bleeding (such as the presence of dried and coffee colored blood in cough or stools) should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Interaction with Medicine
Methotrexate
Warfarin
Corticosteroids
Antihypertensives
Disease interactions
Asthma
Ketorolac should not be taken if you have NSAID-sensitive asthma. Any such history should be reported to the doctor so that an appropriate alternative can be given.
Fluid Retention and edema
Ketorolac should be taken only after consulting a doctor. Monitoring of blood pressure and heart conditions is necessary on a regular basis during the course of therapy.
Skin Rash
Ketorolac may cause potentially fatal skin allergies without any warning. Signs and symptoms like rashes, hives, fever or other allergic symptoms should be reported without any delay. These conditions require immediate medical intervention.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Ketorolac should be taken following all labeled instructions. The duration and amount of medicine consumed should be as prescribed by the doctor. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary during the treatment. Drink adequate amount of water to minimize the irritation caused in the stomach.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Ketorolac works by reducing the formation of chemical substances in the body that cause pain and swelling.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 9 June 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Ketorolac tromethamine injection, solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 June 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 9 June 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 June 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 5 Jan 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.