It is important that you use this medication properly to help reduce your risk of side effects. See Uses and How to Use sections.

Ketorolac may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach/intestines. Also, drugs related to ketorolac have rarely caused blood clots to form, resulting in serious (possibly fatal) heart attacks and strokes. This medication might also rarely cause similar problems, especially if you have heart disease or have used this drug for a long time. Stop taking ketorolac and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of these rare but very serious side effects: black stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the benefits and risks of treatment, as well as other possible medication choices.

Do not use this medication if you are in labor, breast-feeding, or have stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., ulcers, bleeding), severe kidney problems, severe loss of body water (dehydration), or bleeding/clotting problems. Do not use ketorolac right before/after heart bypass surgery or before any surgery. Do not use ketorolac with high doses of aspirin or with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). See Drug Interactions.

Although unlikely, very serious allergic reactions have occurred with ketorolac use. Patients should watch for signs of an allergic reaction. See Side Effects for more information. Do not use ketorolac if you are allergic to it, aspirin, or other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib).

Patients who are elderly, weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kilograms), or have mild kidney problems require smaller doses of ketorolac. Consult your doctor for details.

Ketorolac is used for the short-term treatment of moderate to severe pain in adults, usually after surgery. Reducing pain helps you recover more comfortably from surgery and return to your normal daily activity sooner. This medication is known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Ketorolac should not be used for mild or ongoing painful conditions.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using ketorolac. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth, usually every 4 or 6 hours with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking this drug. Take it with food, milk, or an antacid to prevent stomach upset.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. To reduce side effect risks (e.g., stomach bleeding), use this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose, take it more often than prescribed, or use it for more than 5 days in total (injection and tablets). Do not take more than 40 milligrams per day of ketorolac by mouth. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are taking this drug on an "as needed" basis (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has significantly worsened, the medicine may not work as well.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

See also Warning section.

Upset stomach, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, gas, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: stomach pain, difficult/painful swallowing, swelling of the hands/feet, sudden/unexplained weight gain, vision changes, hearing changes (e.g., ringing in the ears), mental/mood changes, fast/pounding heartbeat, persistent/severe headache, fainting.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: change in the amount of urine, easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), unexplained stiff neck, seizures.

This drug may rarely cause serious liver disease. Stop taking ketorolac and tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, unusual/extreme tiredness, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking ketorolac, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin or other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib); or if you have any other allergies.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), severe kidney disease, recent heart bypass surgery (CABG), stomach/intestinal/esophagus problems (e.g., bleeding, ulcers, recurring heartburn), blood disorders (e.g., anemia), bleeding or clotting problems, bleeding inside the brain, severe loss of body water (dehydration).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, poorly controlled diabetes, heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, history of heart attack), high blood pressure, stroke, swelling (edema, fluid retention), blood disorders (e.g., anemia), asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps).

Ketorolac should not be used before surgery because it can cause bleeding. Tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication before having surgery.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely.

This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco may increase your risk for stomach bleeding, especially when combined with this medicine. Limit alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Infrequently, this medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

The elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially stomach/intestinal bleeding and kidney effects.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during the first 6 months of pregnancy. It is not recommended for use during the last 3 months of pregnancy due to possible harm to the unborn baby and interference with normal labor/delivery. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This drug passes into breast milk. Therefore, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: high doses of aspirin and related drugs (salicylates), cidofovir, other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib), pentoxifylline, probenecid.

If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting ketorolac.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anti-platelet drugs (e.g., cilostazol, clopidogrel), certain anti-seizure drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin), oral bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), "blood thinners" (e.g., enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), cyclosporine, desmopressin, high blood pressure drugs (including ACE inhibitors such as captopril, angiotensin receptor blockers such as losartan, and beta-blockers such as metoprolol), lithium, methotrexate, pemetrexed, certain psychiatric drugs (alprazolam, thiothixene), SSRI antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline), "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide, amiloride, triamterene).

Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully for other pain/fever drugs (NSAIDs such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen). These drugs are similar to this medication, so taking one of these drugs while also taking this medication may increase your risk of side effects. However, if your doctor has prescribed low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue to take the aspirin. Daily use of NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) may decrease aspirin's ability to prevent heart attack/stroke. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and to discuss other possible treatments (e.g., acetaminophen) for your pain/fever.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe stomach pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, extreme drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, loss of consciousness.

Do not share this medication with others.

This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in those cases.

If you are prescribed this drug on a regular schedule (not just "as needed") and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised March 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.