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Ketorolac vs. Tramadol

Ketorolac (Toradol) is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It provides pain relief by blocking certain chemicals in your body that cause pain and inflammation. But ketorolac (Toradol) is meant for short-term use only due to the risk for severe side effects, such as heart attack and stomach ulcers. Typically, ketorolac (Toradol) is first given as an injection in a hospital or clinic setting. After that, you'll likely continue treatment with the oral tablets, which are taken every 4 to 6 hours for a maximum of 5 days. Your care team will help you transition to a safer alternative pain medication as soon as possible.

• Short-term, moderate to severe pain in adults

The following side effects occurred in at least 10% of people during clinical studies:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Headache

• Serious bleeds
• Heart attack and stroke
• Kidney damage
• Don't take with other NSAIDs
• Higher risk of serious side effects
• High blood pressure and heart failure
• Liver damage
• Severe allergic reactions

Tramadol is an opioid pain medication used when non-opioid medications aren't working well enough to control pain. Compared to other opioids, tramadol might have a lower risk of misuse and dependency. But tramadol is a controlled substance and has a lot of potentially serious risks, so it must be used with caution.

• Pain that isn't relieved by non-opioid pain medications alone

• Constipation (up to 46%)
• Nausea (up to 40%)
• Dizziness (up to 33%)
• Headache (up to 32%)
• Sleepiness (up to 25%)
• Vomiting (up to 17%)

• Potential for addiction and misuse
• Dangerously slow breathing (respiratory depression)
• Overdose
• Harm to newborn babies
• Drug interactions
• Difficulty concentrating and extreme sleepiness
• Serotonin syndrome
• Seizures
• Low blood pressure
• Low adrenal hormone levels
• Physical dependence and withdrawal
• Low blood sodium levels