Ketorolac Tromethamine

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Sep 07, 2022

Warnings

Ketorolac Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Ketorolac can cause serious medical problems in some people. If you are at a high risk of complications, talk to your doctor about other treatment options for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis or mild eye pain after ocular surgery. Some of the risks of ketorolac use include:

SLOW OR DELAYED HEALING OF EYE INJURIES: Ketorolac can cause slow or delayed healing of an eye injury. The risk is higher if you are also using corticosteroid eye drops such as dexamethasone or prednisolone. Your healthcare professional will decide whether it is okay for you to use ketorolac ophthalmic after eye surgery.
BREATHING PROBLEMS: NSAID eye drops like ketorolac can cause asthma flare-ups or trouble breathing. The risk is especially high in susceptible patients with previously exhibited sensitivities, i.e., people who have asthma or a history of aspirin- or NSAID-induced breathing problems. Tell your doctor if you have allergies to these types of medicines. Seek emergency medical help if you have any breathing difficulty after using ketorolac ophthalmic drops.
BLEEDING PROBLEMS: Ketorolac ophthalmic solution can increase the risk of bleeding after eye surgery. Let your healthcare providers know if you have a blood clotting disorder, any known bleeding tendencies, or if you take medications like blood thinners. Call your doctor if you notice blood spots on your eye, especially after eye surgery.
SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CORNEA: Ketorolac ophthalmic solution can cause inflammation, injury, or weakening of the ocular tissues, specifically the cornea. This medicine can cause serious damage, including corneal thinning, corneal perforation, corneal erosion, and corneal epithelial breakdown. These corneal adverse events can lead to serious vision problems. Tell your health care professional if you have a history of any corneal epithelial defects, ocular surface diseases, or repeat ocular surgeries. Get regular eye checks while using ketorolac ophthalmic solution. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any ocular pain, severe burning, or vision changes like blurred vision while using this medicine. Use ketorolac drops exactly as prescribed. Do not use more than one drop, and do not use this medicine for longer than prescribed after eye surgery. Patient risk of corneal problems is higher when there is a history of ocular surface diseases, multiple eye surgeries, or rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term ketorolac use can also increase patient risk of corneal damage.
WEARING CONTACT LENSES: It is not safe to wear soft contacts while using ketorolac eye drops. Your health care professional will tell you when it is safe to start wearing contact lenses again after eye surgery.

Precautions Before Starting Ketorolac

Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to ketorolac, any of the active or inactive ingredients in ketorolac ophthalmic drops, aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions. Ketorolac may not be right for people with certain health conditions such as known bleeding tendencies, liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease.

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between ketorolac and your other medicines.

Tell your health care professional if you wear soft contacts. You should not wear contacts while using ketorolac ophthalmic solution.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Ketorolac

Keep all your eye appointments while taking ketorolac. Your doctor may want to do regular eye checks while using this medicine.

Ketorolac ophthalmic can cause blurred vision. Use caution while driving and operating machinery after you instill the eye drop.

Ketorolac Drug Interactions

Concomitant administration of ketorolac ophthalmic solution with other drugs can affect how each of the medicines works. Possible drug interactions between ketorolac and other medicines can also increase the risk of serious adverse events. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications or monitor you carefully for possible side effects if there are known interactions between ketorolac and your other medicines.

The following medications can have interactions with ketorolac:

Aspirin
Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Midol, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), celecoxib (Celebrex), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), fenoprofen (Nalfon), indomethacin (Indocin), oral ketorolac (Toradol), ketoprofen (Oruvail, Orudis), mefenamic (Ponstel), meclofenamate, nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), oxaprozin (Daypro), tolmetin (Tolectin), and sulindac (Clinoril).
Blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin (Coumadin)

The above list may not include all the possible interactions of ketorolac. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

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