Toradol (Ketorolac): What You Need to Know About This Powerful NSAID Pain Reliever

When it comes to pain medications, there are many options available. But it can be tricky to find the right fit if you need one. Toradol (ketorolac) is one option for treating pain that’s too intense for standard over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.

Toradol is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that’s available with a prescription. It’s quite effective, and it’s a possible substitute for opioid medications.

Many people use Toradol for this reason. But there are a number of risks and side effects to be aware of before taking it. Below, we take a closer look at Toradol and its risks and benefits as a potential substitute for opioid painkillers.

What is Toradol (ketorolac)?

Toradol is a NSAID that’s similar to OTC treatments such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn). But, it’s more powerful and requires a prescription from a healthcare professional.

Toradol is helpful for adults who need relief from acute (sudden onset) pain that’s moderate-to-severe in severity, such as after surgery. Toradol works by lowering inflammation.

It shouldn’t be used for more than 5 days at a time, though. That’s because it comes with a risk of serious side effects when used for an extended period of time. More on this in just a bit.

Disclaimer: Brand-name Toradol is no longer commercially available in the U.S. But generic versions of ketorolac are still available. Many people still casually refer to ketorolac as Toradol, so this article follows suit.

What is Toradol used for?

Toradol is a medication used for treating moderate-to-severe pain, and it’s a possible substitute for opioids. Toradol is FDA approved for use after surgery to help control pain levels, but it may be used off-label for other situations as well. Toradol may also be used in combination with opioids to lower the dose of opioids needed to manage pain.

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Can Toradol be used for migraines?

Toradol isn’t FDA approved to treat migraines. But it’s often used off-label to treat them anyway. In fact, NSAIDs like Toradol are possible first-choice options to treat certain types of migraines.

Toradol is used as an abortive therapy for migraines, typically in the form of an injection. This means it can stop a migraine after it has started. All NSAIDs are thought to be similarly effective for treating migraines.

Aside from Toradol and other NSAIDs, triptans are also first-choice migraine treatments. Common triptans include:

• Rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT)

• Sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra, others)

• Zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig-ZMT)

• Naratriptan

What are the side effects of Toradol?

Like all medications, Toradol has several possible side effects. Toradol side effects differ depending on how you’re taking it. But common ones include:

• Headache

• Indigestion

• Stomach pain

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Nausea and vomiting

• Dizziness

• Rash

Good to know: Be sure to take Toradol tablets with food to help lower the risk of experiencing stomach-related side effects.

Are there any serious risks associated with taking Toradol?

Toradol has a number of less common but potentially serious side effects and health risks, too. NSAIDs such as Toradol may raise your chances of experiencing:

• Heart attack or stroke

• High blood pressure

• Stomach ulcers or bleeding

• Kidney damage

• Harm to an unborn baby (if taken by a person who is pregnant)

• Serious skin reactions

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Taking Toradol for more than 5 days raises your risk of experiencing these side effects.

If you think you’re experiencing one or more of the above side effects, seek medical attention right away.

Which medications interact with Toradol?

Certain medications can interact with Toradol and raise the risk of side effects.

Although not an all-inclusive list, the following medications may interact with Toradol:

• Other NSAIDs, including aspirin

• Blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto)

• Certain antiseizure medications, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol)

• Diuretics (water pills), such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)

• Certain antidepressants, such as sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac)

• Lithium (Lithobid)

• Methotrexate

• Probenecid (Probalan)

Depending on your health background or other medications you take, Toradol may not be the safest option for you. Before starting Toradol, make sure that your prescriber and pharmacist know your full medical history as well as all medications and supplements that you’re taking.

What do you need to know about Toradol injections?

Toradol injections are usually recommended for initial pain relief. They’re either injected into a muscle (IM) or vein (IV).

When given IM or IV, Toradol starts working quickly — about 30 minutes after administration. Its effects can last up to 6 hours, but its maximum impact is usually felt after about 1 to 2 hours.

Toradol is often given as a single injection, but some people may receive it every 6 hours. The specific dose depends on factors such as age, body weight, and kidney function.

Can Toradol injections be used for anything else?

Toradol is a preferred medication to treat pain from a kidney stone in the urinary tract. Toradol also has off-label uses for treating people that are experiencing pain from cancer that has metastasized (spread) to the bone. It’s sometimes used to treat sickle cell crises too.

What do you need to know about Toradol tablets?

Toradol tablets are also available. However, taking them is somewhat unique. They’re only prescribed after receiving Toradol injections, either IM or IV.

In other words, if you receive a Toradol injection while in a hospital, your healthcare professional may prescribe you Toradol tablets for a short period of time when you go home. The combined time of receiving a Toradol injection and taking Toradol tablets shouldn’t be more than 5 days.

Like Toradol injections, Toradol tablet dosages vary by person. However, they are often prescribed to be taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed for moderate to severe pain. Toradol is available as a 10 mg tablet, but no more than 40 mg should be taken per day.

What do you need to know about the ketorolac nasal spray?

Many nasal sprays treat allergy symptoms or nasal congestion. This isn’t the case for ketorolac nasal spray — which also goes by the brand-name Sprix. As with other formulations of the medication, it treats moderate-to-severe pain.

Depending on your age and kidney function, this nasal spray is administered into one or both nostrils every 6 to 8 hours. Sprix shouldn’t be used for more than 5 days at a time, either. It carries many of the same risks as the tablets and injections.

What do you need to know about ketorolac eye drops?

Ketorolac eye drops (Acular LS, Acuvail) are available too. Unlike the other versions of ketorolac, these eye drops aren’t used for pain. They’re approved to help lessen inflammation after eye surgery. They’re also approved to manage itchy eye symptoms caused by allergies.

Compared to Toradol tablets and injections, ketorolac eye drops have less side effect concerns. The main side effect is a temporary burning feeling after the eye drop is administered.

Ketorolac eye drops are usually instilled 4 times per day into each affected eye. But, similar to its other formulations, ketorolac eye drops shouldn’t be used long term. The maximum amount of time you should use ketorolac eye drops is 2 weeks (14 days) after cataract surgery and 4 days after cornea surgery. Long-term use of NSAID eye drops can potentially have a negative impact on your eyesight.

Is Toradol a narcotic?

No, Toradol is not a narcotic, opioid, or controlled substance. It’s a non-habit forming alternative to treat moderate-to-severe pain that requires opioid levels of pain relief. Examples of opioid medications include oxycodone (OxyContin), morphine (MS Contin), and fentanyl (Actiq, Dilaudid).

NSAIDs work differently than opioids and don’t cause the same side effects. They tend to work less in the brain than opioids and more in other parts of the body — this helps lower the risk of dependence.

Keep in mind: Narcotics and opioids are interchangeable terms. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers opioids to be controlled substances because of their risk of dependence and misuse.

How to save on Toradol

There are ways to save on Toradol, which is available as a generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 80% off the average retail price of the generic versions. Generic ketorolac tablets at certain pharmacies are as low as $15.39 with a free GoodRx discount. 

Generic ketorolac eye drops at certain pharmacies are as low as $0.89.

What’s more, if you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, brand-name Sprix’s price is as little as $0 if you use the manufacturer’s savings card.

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Written by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Bailey E. Eason, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Bailey Eason has been licensed for 6 years and has held licenses in three states (North Carolina, Virginia, and Illinois). She has held positions as a health-system pharmacy administration resident, operating room pharmacy manager, pharmacy manager of clinical operations: surgery, neurology and controlled substances, and most recently as program director  of drug diversion for a large academic health system.

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