Can ketorolac cause alopecia?

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Last updated: February 8, 2025View editorial policy

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There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.

The FDA Drug Labels for ketorolac (PO) do not address this question.

From the Research

Ketorolac and Alopecia

  • There is limited information available on the association between ketorolac and alopecia.
  • A study from 1995 1 mentions that hair loss from nonsteroidal analgesics, such as ketorolac, occurs in a very small percentage of patients.
  • However, none of the other studies 2, 3, 4, 5 provide direct evidence of an association between ketorolac and alopecia.
  • A review of ketorolac's pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties 5 does not mention alopecia as a potential side effect.

Related Information

  • Drug-induced alopecia is usually described as a diffuse non-scarring alopecia which is reversible upon withdrawal of the drug 1.
  • Several medications, including antimitotic agents, psychotropic drugs, anticonvulsant agents, and antihypertensive drugs, have been associated with hair loss 1, 2.
  • The diagnosis of drug-induced alopecia remains difficult and can only be confirmed by seeing if an improvement occurs after cessation of the suspected drug 1.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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