Ketorolac is used to help relieve moderate to severe pain after surgery.
Take Ketorolac exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it together with food or immediately after a meal.
You may stop taking this medicine when you do not feel any more pain.
This medicine is a short-term pain relief therapy that is only indicated as a continuation following a Ketorolac treatment that is given either intravenously (into the vein) or intramuscularly (into the muscle). Your doctor will advise you on the dose and duration of your treatment.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
Do not take this medicine if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes, asthma) to Ketorolac or other similar medicines such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] (medicines for pain and inflammation).
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- active or history of stomach ulcer or bleeding
- recent perforation (a hole that starts along the organ wall of the body) or bleeding in the stomach or bowel
- bleeding disorders or at high risk of bleeding
- severe heart disease
- at risk for kidney failure due to dehydration or low fluid volume in the body
- moderate to severe kidney disease
as Ketorolac may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are in your 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
Ketorolac should not be used to treat pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (a procedure to improve and restore the blood flow in the heart), during labour and delivery, or for the prevention of pain before any major surgery.
Do not take this medicine with other NSAIDs, blood-thinning medicines, or medicines used to treat gout, mood disorders, or circulation problems. Please see the section "Can I take this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- history of bowel inflammation e.g. ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the large intestines), Crohn's disease (long-term inflammatory disease of the digestive tract)
- recent heart attack
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation)
- other forms of asthma
- low body weight (<50 kg)
- mild or history of kidney disease
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are in your 1st or 2nd trimester of pregnancy, or if you are breastfeeding.
Notify your doctor if you consume alcohol or if you are a smoker.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Ketorolac to the elderly or debilitated patient (physically or mentally weak, usually due to illness or old age). Elderly people and debilitated patients may be more sensitive to the side effects.
Routine tests (e.g. complete blood count, liver and renal function) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
Ketorolac may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, stomach pain or discomfort, indigestion, stomach wind, constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn (burning pain in your chest caused by food or acid from your stomach that backs up into your mouth), vomiting, and ringing in the ears.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, or mouth
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth, or eyes accompanied by fever
- pass out bloody or black as tar stools and vomiting blood or ground coffee-like material
- unable to pass urine or change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine
- yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe stomach pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness
- chest pain
- slurred speech, weakness in one side or part of the body, change in balance
- big weight gain, swelling in the arms or legs
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Ketorolac with the following medicines:
- other NSAIDs (medicines for pain and inflammation) e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen
- probenecid (medicine for gout [high uric acid level in the blood])
- pentoxifylline (medicine used to improve blood flow)
- lithium (medicine for mood disorder)
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin, heparin
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any of these medicines:
- water pills or medicines for water retention e.g. furosemide
- medicines for high blood pressure e.g. captopril, losartan, propranolol
- anti-inflammatory medicines e.g. prednisolone
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. tiotixene
- medicines for depression e.g. fluoxetine
- digoxin (medicine for heart disease)
- methotrexate (medicine for cancer or certain immune disorders)
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders)
- alprazolam (medicine for anxiety)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Ketorolac.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Protect from excessive humidity and light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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