ketorolac trometamol at a glance
Medicine class
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Injection
Given by a healthcare professional into a muscle or vein, with treatment initiated in hospital.
Eye drops
Used in adults around eye surgery to prevent and reduce inflammation and associated symptoms.
Driving
Do not drive if the injection causes dizziness or drowsiness, or until blurred vision after eye drops has cleared.
What is ketorolac trometamol used for?
The selected UK products have distinct licensed roles:
Injection: management of moderate to severe acute postoperative pain, initiated in hospital.
Eye drops: prevention and reduction of inflammation and associated symptoms following eye surgery in adults.
How does ketorolac trometamol work?
Ketorolac inhibits cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, reducing prostaglandins involved in pain and inflammation. Eye drops act mainly within the eye, while injection has systemic pain-relieving effects. Ketorolac is not an opioid.
ketorolac trometamol preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 0.5% w/v
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 30 mg/mL
How to take ketorolac trometamol
The injection is administered by trained staff into a muscle or vein and must not be given epidurally or into the spinal canal. For eye drops, wash your hands, pull down the lower eyelid, apply into the pocket and close the eye briefly. Avoid touching the dropper tip to the eye or other surfaces. Remove soft contact lenses before use and follow the product instructions before reinserting them.
Use only the formulation prescribed for you.
Separate different eye medicines as instructed.
Do not drive until blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness has cleared.
Do not use an eye-drop bottle if its tamper seal was already broken.
ketorolac trometamol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Eye drops: temporary stinging, burning, irritation or eye pain. Headache, redness, itching, eyelid swelling or blurred vision can also occur.
- Injection: nausea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea or constipation. Dizziness, headache, swelling and injection-site discomfort have also been reported.
Get urgent medical advice
- Gastrointestinal ulceration, bleeding or perforation.
- Acute kidney injury or markedly reduced urine output.
- Severe allergy, bronchospasm or worsening asthma.
- Postoperative or other abnormal bleeding.
- Serious blistering or peeling skin reactions.
- Eye-surface ulceration, thinning or perforation, which may threaten sight.
ketorolac trometamol in pregnancy
Ketorolac injection is contraindicated during pregnancy, labour and delivery. Ketorolac eye drops are not recommended in pregnancy despite low expected systemic exposure. Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or may be pregnant. Systemic NSAIDs later in pregnancy may affect fetal kidney and cardiovascular function.
ketorolac trometamol interactions
Tell the clinical team about prescribed, non-prescription and complementary products. Important interactions mainly concern injected ketorolac.
Aspirin, other NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors
Concurrent systemic use is contraindicated because serious NSAID adverse effects may increase.
Warfarin, heparin and other anticoagulants
Concurrent use is contraindicated because ketorolac impairs platelet function and may increase bleeding.
Lithium
Concurrent use is contraindicated because ketorolac can reduce lithium clearance and raise blood concentrations.
Common questions about ketorolac trometamol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is ketorolac trometamol an opioid?
No. It is an NSAID that reduces prostaglandin production and has no known action at opioid receptors.
Can it be taken with ibuprofen or aspirin?
Systemic ketorolac must not be combined with aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs because serious NSAID-related adverse effects may increase.
Can it affect the kidneys?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.