From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ... In adults, the use of ketorolac tromethamine tablets is only indicated as continuation therapy to IV or IM dosing of ketorolac tromethamine ... Patients age 17 to 64: 20 mg PO once followed by 10 mg q4 to 6 hours prn not > 40 mg/day ... Do not shorten dosing interval of 4 to 6 hours. The FDA drug label does not answer the question about how much Toradol (ketorolac) can be ordered per hour. The label provides dosing instructions in terms of mg per day and dosing intervals of 4 to 6 hours, but does not provide information on hourly ordering limits 1.
From the Research
I strongly advise against ordering Toradol (ketorolac) without a proper medical evaluation, as it is a prescription-only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that should only be administered under direct medical supervision. The appropriate dosing schedule for Toradol must be determined by a healthcare provider based on the patient's specific medical condition, weight, age, kidney function, and other medications they may be taking. According to the most recent and highest quality study, typically, Toradol is limited to a maximum of 40mg per day for oral use or 120mg per day for injectable use, and should not be used for more than 5 days total due to increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and cardiovascular events 2. Some key points to consider when prescribing Toradol include:
- The drug has strict maximum daily and duration limits due to its potential for serious side effects
- The appropriate dosing schedule must be determined by a healthcare provider based on the patient's specific medical condition, weight, age, kidney function, and other medications they may be taking
- Toradol should not be used for more than 5 days total due to increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and cardiovascular events
- Patients experiencing pain requiring medication should consult with their doctor for proper evaluation and appropriate pain management options. It is also important to note that the practice of prescribing doses of opioid analgesics based solely on pain intensity should be prohibited, as it disregards the relevance of other essential elements of assessment and may contribute to untoward patient outcomes 3. In terms of analgesic efficacy, ketorolac has been shown to have similar analgesic efficacy at intravenous doses of 10,15, and 30 mg, with the 10 mg dose providing effective pain relief to patients with moderate to severe pain without increased adverse effects 2. Overall, the key to safe and effective pain management with Toradol is a thorough medical evaluation and individualized treatment plan.