What is Ketorolac? Uses, warnings & side effects

Your healthcare provider will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

Take tablets every four to six hours.

• Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water.

• Doses can be taken without regard to food, but taking the pill with food or milk may prevent stomach upset.

• Doses should not be taken for longer than five days.

• Store ketorolac tablets at room temperature. Protect from light.

Administer four doses of the ketorolac eye drops daily. 

• Follow the healthcare provider’s instructions carefully. Some people will take doses for two weeks, some for only four days, and some for a variable time.

• Use this product only on the eye.

• Remove contact lenses before instilling this medicine.

• Administer only one drop into each affected eye.

• Do not touch the tip of the dropper to the eye.

• If you are using other eye drop medications, space the doses of each by at least five minutes.

• Store the eye drops bottle at room temperature. Protect from light.

Take Sprix ketorolac nasal spray every six to eight hours.

• Follow the healthcare provider’s instructions carefully. Most people will administer one spray into each nostril when taking a dose, but people on a restricted dose will administer one spray into only one nostril.

• The bottle’s pump needs to be activated before its first use. Please read the instructions in the drug information sheet included with the medicine.

• Sprix is a nasal spray only. Do not inhale. Hold your breath when spraying Sprix into the nostril.

• Blow your nose before administering a dose.

• After inserting the bottle tip, point it away from the center of the nose to give a dose.

• When finished, breathe through your mouth for a few seconds to avoid expelling the medicine.

• The bottle is only meant to be used for 24 hours. After that, dispose of the bottle.

• Store the bottle at room temperature. Keep it away from direct sunlight.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for a copy.

People given ketorolac by a hospital, clinic, or eye doctor may receive written instructions on how to take the drug. Follow the rules in those instructions for managing a missed dose.

People without written instructions should ask the prescriber what to do if a dose is missed.

Some doctors or clinics will tell you to skip a missed dose. Some will instruct you to take the missed dose unless it’s almost time for the next dose. Follow the advice you’re given.

Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

This medicine is not right for everyone.

Ketorolac is contraindicated in anyone who has had an allergic reaction to ketorolac.

Ketorolac tablets, injections, and nasal spray are contraindicated in people who have:

• Known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen

• Severe kidney disease (or those who are at risk of kidney failure due to dehydration)

• Active peptic ulcer disease, recent gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation, or a history of peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding

• Active bleeding problems, such as a stroke

• Risk factors for bleeding problems

Ketorolac tablets, nasal spray, and injections are contraindicated in people taking:

• Aspirin or other NSAIDs

• Probenecid

• Pentoxifylline 

Doctors never use ketorolac:

• Before major surgery

• Before or after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

• In women during labor and delivery

• As a spinal injection

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Keep all healthcare appointments when taking this medicine.

For people taking ketorolac tablets or nasal spray, contact the prescriber if you experience any signs of a serious side effect, such as:

• Ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, or perforation

• Heart attack or ischemic heart events

• Heart failure

• Stroke

• Liver problems

• Kidney problems

• Allergic reactions

• Skin reactions

People taking ketorolac eye drops should immediately contact the prescriber if they start having other eye problems, such as infection or bleeding.

Before taking ketorolac tablets or nasal spray, inform the prescriber if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have:

• Kidney disease

• Liver problems

• Heart disease

• Circulation problems

• A history of blood clots

• High blood pressure

• Asthma

Ketorolac tablets and nasal spray are not safe to take during pregnancy after 30 weeks of gestation.

Do not take ketorolac tablets or nasal spray for longer than five days unless your healthcare provider has instructed otherwise.

Avoid taking other NSAID medicines, such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac.

• People on low-dose aspirin therapy may need to quit. Get medical advice from the healthcare provider who prescribed low-dose aspirin.

Ketorolac should never be combined with the gout medication probenecid or the blood circulation treatment.

Before starting ketorolac tablets or nasal spray, tell the healthcare provider if you are using:

• NSAIDs, including aspirin

• Blood thinners

• Blood pressure medications called ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers

• Drugs that treat seizures

• Drugs that make you urinate

• Antidepressants called SSRIs

• Alprazolam, lithium, methotrexate, thiothixene