Is ketorolac (Toradol) available in oral form?

From the Guidelines

Yes, ketorolac is available in oral form, with a typical dosage of 10 mg every 4-6 hours as needed for pain, not to exceed 40 mg per day, as seen in the study by Innes et al 1. The oral form of ketorolac typically comes as 10 mg tablets. Key points to consider when prescribing oral ketorolac include:

• Short-term treatment, generally not exceeding 5 days
• Higher risk of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other oral NSAIDs
• Reserved for acute, moderately severe pain that requires analgesia at the opioid level
• Potential side effects, including stomach upset, bleeding risks, and kidney effects, especially with prolonged use Ketorolac works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body, as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), it's particularly effective for pain associated with inflammation, as noted in the management of acute migraine headache study 1. Patients should be aware of potential side effects and follow the prescribed dosage and duration closely, informing healthcare providers of any existing medical conditions or medications before starting ketorolac. Some important considerations for the use of ketorolac include:
• Contraindications, such as aspirin/NSAID-induced asthma, pregnancy, and cerebrovascular hemorrhage
• Adverse reactions, including edema, drowsiness, dizziness, GI upset, and increased diaphoresis
• Comparison to other NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium, in terms of efficacy and dosage.

From the FDA Drug Label

Ketorolac Tromethamine Tablets USP are white, round, convex, unscored, film coated tablets. Each tablet, for oral administration, contains 10 mg ketorolac tromethamine, USP, the active ingredient Ketorolac tromethamine is 100% absorbed after oral administration The pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine, following IV and IM doses of ketorolac tromethamine and oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine, are compared in Table 1

Yes, ketorolac (Toradol) is available in oral form, as indicated by the description of Ketorolac Tromethamine Tablets USP for oral administration 2, 2, and 2. Key points include:

• Oral administration of ketorolac tromethamine
• 100% absorption after oral administration
• Comparison of oral pharmacokinetics with IV and IM doses in Table 1

From the Research

Availability of Ketorolac in Oral Form

• Ketorolac is available in oral form, as stated in the study published in 1996 3.
• The oral form of ketorolac has been shown to provide analgesia that is the same or better than other commonly available oral analgesics, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen with codeine 3.
• Another study published in 1990 also confirms that ketorolac is administered as the tromethamine salt orally, intramuscularly, intravenously, and as a topical ophthalmic solution 4.
• The pharmacokinetics of ketorolac have been studied, and it has been found that the drug is rapidly absorbed, with an oral bioavailability of 80-100% 5.
• A study published in 1990 investigated the pharmacokinetics of single-dose oral and intramuscular ketorolac tromethamine in young and elderly subjects, and found that the absorption of ketorolac was not altered substantially in the elderly following either dose route 6.
• A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2024 evaluated the safety profile of oral ketorolac in adults, and found that multiple intakes of oral ketorolac do not increase the risk of adverse events compared to placebo, and show a tendency to reduce the risk of adverse events compared to active drugs 7.

Key Findings

• Ketorolac is available in oral form, with a rapid absorption and high oral bioavailability 5.
• The oral form of ketorolac has been shown to be effective in providing analgesia, with a safety profile that is comparable to other oral analgesics 3, 7.
• The pharmacokinetics of ketorolac are not substantially altered in the elderly, although the elimination of the drug may be decreased slightly in this population 6.