Ketorolac tromethamine (injection)

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# Black Box Warning

# Overview
Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) is a analgesic that is FDA approved for the treatment of {{{indication}}}. There is a Black Box Warning for this drug as shown here.  Common adverse reactions include edema, hypertension, pruritus, rash, sweating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, stomatitis, vomiting, anemia, purpura, dizziness, headache, somnolence, iritis.

# Adult Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
- Ketorolac tromethamine is indicated for the short-term (5 days) management of moderately severe acute pain that requires analgesia at the opioid level, usually in a postoperative setting. Therapy should always be initiated with Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection and ketorolac tromethamine tablets are to be used only as continuation treatment, if necessary. Combined use of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection and ketorolac tromethamine tablets is not to exceed 5 days of use because of the potential of increasing the frequency and severity of adverse reactions associated with the recommended doses. Patients should be switched to alternative analgesics as soon as possible, but ketorolac tromethamine therapy is not to exceed 5 days. Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection has been used concomitantly with morphine and meperidine and has shown an opioid-sparing effect. For breakthrough pain, it is recommended to supplement the lower end of the Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection dosage range with low doses of narcotics prn, unless otherwise contraindicated. Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection and narcotics should not be administered in the same syringe

### Dosage
- THE COMBINED DURATION OF USE OF KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE INJECTION AND KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE TABLETS IS NOT TO EXCEED FIVE (5) DAYS. THE USE OF KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE TABLETS IS ONLY INDICATED AS CONTINUATION THERAPY TO KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE INJECTION.
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection may be used as a single or multiple dose on a regular or prn schedule for the management of moderately severe acute pain that requires analgesia at the opioid level, usually in a postoperative setting. Hypovolemia should be corrected prior to the administration of ketorolac tromethamine. Patients should be switched to alternative analgesics as soon as possible, but ketorolac tromethamine therapy is not to exceed five (5) days.
- When administering Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection, the IV bolus must be given over no less than 15 seconds. The IM administration should be given slowly and deeply into the muscle. The analgesic effect begins in ~30 minutes with maximum effect in 1 to 2 hours after dosing IV or IM. Duration of analgesic effect is usually 4 to 6 hours.
- Single-Dose Treatment: The Following Regimen Should Be Limited to Single Administration Use Only
- IM Dosing:
- Patients < 65 years of age: One dose of 60 mg.:Patients  65 years of age, renally impaired and/or less than 50 kg (110 lbs) of body weight: One dose of 30 mg.
- Patients < 65 years of age: One dose of 60 mg.:Patients  65 years of age, renally impaired and/or less than 50 kg (110 lbs) of body weight: One dose of 30 mg.
- IV Dosing:
- Patients < 65 years of age: One dose of 30 mg.:Patients  65 years of age, renally impaired and/or less than 50 kg (110 lbs) of body weight: One dose of 15 mg.
- Patients < 65 years of age: One dose of 30 mg.:Patients  65 years of age, renally impaired and/or less than 50 kg (110 lbs) of body weight: One dose of 15 mg.
- Multiple-Dose Treatment (IV or IM)
- Patients< 65 Years of Age:
- The recommended dose is 30 mg Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection every 6 hours. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 120 mg.
- The recommended dose is 30 mg Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection every 6 hours. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 120 mg.
- For Patients  65 Years of Age, Renally Impaired Patients and Patients Less Than 50 Kg (110 lbs):
- For Patients  65 Years of Age, Renally Impaired Patients and Patients Less Than 50 Kg (110 lbs):
- The recommended dose is 15 mg Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection every 6 hours. The maximum daily dose for these populations should not exceed 60 mg.
- The recommended dose is 15 mg Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection every 6 hours. The maximum daily dose for these populations should not exceed 60 mg.
- For breakthrough pain do not increase the dose or the frequency of ketorolac tromethamine. Consideration should be given to supplementing these regimens with low doses of opioids prn unless otherwise contraindicated.
- For breakthrough pain do not increase the dose or the frequency of ketorolac tromethamine. Consideration should be given to supplementing these regimens with low doses of opioids prn unless otherwise contraindicated.
- Pharmaceutical Information for Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection
- Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection should not be mixed in a small volume (e.g., in a syringe) with morphine sulfate, meperidine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride or hydroxyzine hydrochloride; this will result in precipitation of ketorolac from solution.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in adult patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in adult patients.

# Pediatric Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
There is limited information regarding FDA-Labeled Use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in pediatric patients.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in pediatric patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in pediatric patients.

# Contraindications
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with active peptic ulcer disease, in patients with recent gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation and in patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with advanced renal impairment or in patients at risk for renal failure due to volume depletion.
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in labor and delivery because, through its prostaglandin synthesis inhibitory effect, it may adversely affect fetal circulation and inhibit uterine musculature, thus increasing the risk of uterine hemorrhage.
- The use of ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in nursing mothers because of the potential adverse effects of prostaglandin-inhibiting drugs on neonates.
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to ketorolac tromethamine, or allergic manifestations to aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED as prophylactic analgesic before any major surgery and is CONTRAINDICATED intra-operatively when hemostasis is critical because of the increased risk of bleeding.
- Ketorolac tromethamine inhibits platelet function and is, therefore, CONTRAINDICATED in patients with suspected or confirmed cerebrovascular bleeding, hemorrhagic diathesis, incomplete hemostasis and those at high risk of bleeding.
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in patients currently receiving ASA or NSAIDs because of the cumulative risks of inducing serious NSAID-related adverse events.
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection is CONTRAINDICATED for neuraxial (epidural or intrathecal) administration due to its alcohol content.
The concomitant use of ketorolac tromethamine and probenecid is CONTRAINDICATED.

# Warnings
- The combined use of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injecton and ketorolac tromethamine tablets are not to exceed 5 days.
- The most serious risks associated with ketorolac tromethamine are:
- The most serious risks associated with ketorolac tromethamine are:
- Gastrointestinal Ulcerations, Bleeding and Perforation:
- Ketorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with previously documented peptic ulcers and/or GI bleeding. Serious gastrointestinal toxicity, such as bleeding, ulceration and perforation, can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms, in patients treated with ketorolac tromethamine. Studies to date with NSAIDs have not identified any subset of patients not at risk of developing peptic ulceration and bleeding. Elderly or debilitated patients seem to tolerate ulceration or bleeding less well than other individuals, and most spontaneous reports of fatal GI events are in this population. Postmarketing experience with parenterally administered ketorolac tromethamine suggests that there may be a greater risk of gastrointestinal ulcerations, bleeding and perforation in the elderly.
- The incidence and severity of gastrointestinal complications increases with increasing dose of, and duration of treatment with, ketorolac tromethamine. In a non-randomized, in-hospital postmarketing surveillance study comparing parenteral ketorolac tromethamine to parenteral opioids, higher rates of clinically serious GI bleeding were seen in patients <65 years of age who received an average total daily dose of more than 90 mg of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection per day. The same study showed that elderly (65 years of age) and debilitated patients are more susceptible to gastrointestinal complications. A history of peptic ulcer disease was revealed as another risk factor that increases the possibility of developing serious gastrointestinal complications during ketorolac tromethamine therapy.
- Impaired Renal Function:
- Ketorolac tromethamine should be used with caution in patients with impaired renal function or a history of kidney disease because it is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. Renal toxicity with :*ketorolac tromethamine has been seen in patients with conditions leading to a reduction in blood volume and/or renal blood flow where renal prostaglandins have a supportive role in the maintenance of renal perfusion. In these patients administration of ketorolac tromethamine may cause a dose-dependent reduction in renal prostaglandin formation and may precipitate acute renal failure. Patients at greatest risk of this reaction are those with impaired renal function, dehydration, heart failure, liver dysfunction, those taking diuretics and the elderly. Discontinuation of ketorolac tromethamine therapy is usually followed by recovery to the pretreatment state.
- Renal Effects:
- Ketorolac tromethamine and its metabolites are eliminated primarily by the kidneys, which, in patients with reduced creatinine clearance, will result in diminished clearance of the drug. Therefore, ketorolac tromethamine should be used with caution in patients with impaired renal function and such patients should be followed closely. With the use of ketorolac tromethamine, there have been reports of acute renal failure, nephritis and nephrotic syndrome. Because patients with underlying renal insufficiency are at increased risk of developing acute renal failure, the risks and benefits should be assessed prior to giving ketorolac tromethamine to these patients. Hence, in patients with moderately elevated serum creatinine, it is recommended that the daily dose of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection be reduced by half, not to exceed 60 mg/day. Ketorolac tromethamine IS CONTRAINDICATED IN PATIENTS WITH SERUM CREATININE CONCENTRATIONS INDICATING ADVANCED RENAL IMPAIRMENT.
- Hypovolemia should be corrected before treatment with ketorolac tromethamine is initiated.
- Fluid Retention and Edema:
- Fluid retention, edema, retention of NaCl, oliguria, elevations of serum urea nitrogen and creatinine have been reported in clinical trials with ketorolac tromethamine. Therefore, ketorolac tromethamine should be used only very cautiously in patients with cardiac decompensation, hypertension or similar conditions.
- Hemorrhage:
- Because prostaglandins play an important role in hemostasis and NSAIDs affect platelet aggregation as well, use of ketorolac tromethamine in patients who have coagulation disorders should be undertaken very cautiously, and those patients should be carefully monitored. Patients on therapeutic doses of anticoagulants (e.g., heparin or dicumarol derivatives) have an increased risk of bleeding complications if given ketorolac tromethamine concurrently; therefore, physicians should administer such concomitant therapy only extremely cautiously. The concurrent use of ketorolac tromethamine and prophylactic low-dose heparin (2500 to 5000 units q12h), warfarin and dextrans have not been studied extensively, but may also be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Until data from such studies are available, physicians should carefully weigh the benefits against the risks and use such concomitant therapy in these patients only extremely cautiously. In patients who receive anticoagulants for any reason, there is an increased risk of intramuscular hematoma formation from administered ketorolac tromethamine IM. Patients receiving therapy that affects hemostasis should be monitored closely.
- In postmarketing experience, postoperative hematomas and other signs of wound bleeding have been reported in association with the perioperative use of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection. Therefore, perioperative use of ketorolac tromethamine should be avoided and postoperative use be undertaken with caution when hemostasis is critical.
- Anaphylactoid Reactions:
- Anaphylactoid reactions may occur in patients without a known previous exposure or hypersensitivity to aspirin, ketorolac tromethamine or other NSAIDs, or in individuals with a history of angioedema, bronchospastic reactivity (e.g., asthma) and nasal polyps. Anaphylactoid reactions, like anaphylaxis, may have a fatal outcome.

### Precautions
- Hepatic Effects:
- Ketorolac tromethamine should be used with caution in patients with impaired hepatic function or a history of liver disease. Treatment with ketorolac tromethamine may cause elevations of liver enzymes, and, in patients with pre-existing liver dysfunction, it may lead to the development of a more severe hepatic reaction. The administration of ketorolac tromethamine should be discontinued in patients in whom an abnormal liver test has occurred as a result of ketorolac tromethamine therapy.
- Hematologic Effects:
- Ketorolac tromethamine inhibits platelet aggregation and may prolong bleeding time; therefore, it is contraindicated as a preoperative medication, and caution should be used when hemostasis is critical. Unlike aspirin, the inhibition of platelet function by ketorolac tromethamine disappears within 24 to 48 hours after the drug is discontinued. Ketorolac tromethamine does not appear to affect platelet count, prothrombin time (PT) or partial thromboplastin time (PTT). In controlled clinical studies, where ketorolac tromethamine was administered intramuscularly or intravenously postoperatively, the incidence of clinically significant postoperative bleeding was 0.4% for ketorolac tromethamine compared to 0.2% in the control groups receiving narcotic analgesics.

# Adverse Reactions

## Clinical Trials Experience
- Adverse reaction rates increase with higher doses of ketorolac tromethamine. Practitioners should be alert for the severe complications of treatment with ketorolac tromethamine, such as GI ulceration, bleeding and perforation, postoperative bleeding, acute renal failure, anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions and liver failure. These NSAID-related complications can be serious in certain patients for whom ketorolac tromethamine is indicated, especially when the drug is used inappropriately.
- The Adverse Reactions Listed Below Were Reported In Clinical Trials As Probably Related To Ketorolac Tromethamine:
- Incidence Greater Than 1%
- Percentage of incidence in parentheses for those events reported in 3% or more patients
- Body as a Whole: edema (4%)
- Cardiovascular: hypertension
- Dermatologic: pruritus, rash
- Gastrointestinal: nausea (12%), dyspepsia (12%), gastrointestinal pain (13%), diarrhea (7%), constipation, flatulence, gastrointestinal fullness, vomiting, stomatitis
- Hemic and Lymphatic: purpura
- Nervous System: headache (17%), drowsiness (6%), dizziness (7%), sweating
- Injection-site pain was reported by 2% of patients in multi-dose studies.
- Incidence 1% or Less
- Incidence 1% or Less
- Body as a Whole: weight gain, fever, infections, asthenia
- Cardiovascular: palpitation, pallor, syncope
- Dermatologic: urticaria
- Gastrointestinal: gastritis, rectal bleeding, eructation, anorexia, increased appetite
- Hemic and Lymphatic: epistaxis, anemia, eosinophilia
- Nervous System: tremors, abnormal dreams, hallucinations, euphoria, extrapyramidal symptoms, vertigo, paresthesia, depression, insomnia, nervousness, excessive thirst, dry mouth, abnormal thinking, inability to concentrate, hyperkinesis, stupor
- Respiratory: dyspnea, pulmonary edema, rhinitis, cough
- Special Senses: abnormal taste, abnormal vision, blurred vision, tinnitus, hearing loss
- Urogenital: hematuria, proteinuria, oliguria, urinary retention, polyuria, increased urinary frequency

## Postmarketing Experience
- Body as a Whole: hypersensitivity reactions such as anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reaction, laryngeal edema, tongue edema, myalgia
- Cardiovascular: hypotension, flushing
- Dermatologic: Lyells syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, maculo-papular rash, urticaria
- Gastrointestinal: peptic ulceration, GI hemorrhage, GI perforation, melena, acute pancreatitis
- Hemic and Lymphatic: postoperative wound hemorrhage (rarely requiring blood transfusion), thrombocytopenia, leukopenia
- Hepatic: hepatitis, liver failure, cholestatic jaundice
- Nervous System: convulsions, psychosis, aseptic meningitis
- Respiratory: asthma, bronchospasm
- Urogenital: acute renal failure, flank pain with or without hematuria and/or azotemia, nephritis, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hemolytic uremic syndrome

# Drug Interactions
- Ketorolac is highly bound to human plasma protein (mean 99.2%).
- Thein vitro binding ofwarfarin to plasma proteins is only slightly reduced by ketorolac tromethamine (99.5% control vs. 99.3%) when ketorolac plasma concentrations reach 5 to 10 mcg/mL. Ketorolac does not alterdigoxin protein binding. In vitro studies indicate that, at therapeutic concentrations ofsalicylate (300 mcg/mL), the binding of ketorolac was reduced from approximately 99.2% to 97.5%, representing a potential two-fold increase in unbound ketorolac plasma levels. Therapeutic concentrations of digoxin, warfarin, ibuprofen, naproxen, piroxicam, acetaminophen, phenytoin andtolbutamide did not alter ketorolac tromethamine protein binding.
- In a study involving 12 volunteers, ketorolac tromethamine tablets were coadministered with a single dose of 25 mg warfarin, causing no significant changes in pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of warfarin. In another study, Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection was given with two doses of 5000 U ofheparin to 11 healthy volunteers, resulting in a mean template bleeding time of 6.4 minutes (3.2 to 11.4 min) compared to a mean of 6.0 minutes (3.4 to 7.5 min) for heparin alone and 5.1 minutes (3.5 to 8.5 min) for placebo. Although these results do not indicate a significant interaction between ketorolac tromethamine and warfarin or heparin, the administration of ketorolac tromethamine to patients taking anticoagulants should be done extremely cautiously, and patients should be closely monitored.
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection reduced the diuretic response to furosemide in normo-volemic healthy subjects by approximately 20% (mean sodium and urinary output decreased 17%).
- Concomitant administration of ketorolac tromethamine tablets and probenecid resulted in decreased clearance of ketorolac and significant increases in ketorolac plasma levels (total AUC increased approximately three-fold from 5.4 to 17.8 mcg/h/mL) and terminal half-life increased approximately two-fold from 6.6 to 15.1 hours. Therefore, concomitant use of ketorolac tromethamine and probenecid is contraindicated.
- Inhibition of renal lithiumclearance, leading to an increase in plasma lithium concentration, has been reported with some prostaglandin synthesis-inhibiting drugs. The effect of ketorolac tromethamine on plasma lithium has not been studied, but cases of increased lithium plasma levels during ketorolac tromethamine therapy have been reported.
- Concomitant administration of methotrexateand some NSAIDs has been reported to reduce the clearance of methotrexate, enhancing the toxicity of methotrexate. The effect of ketorolac tromethamine on methotrexate clearance has not been studied.
- In postmarketing experience there have been reports of a possible interaction between Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection andnondepolarizing muscle relaxants that resulted in apnea. The concurrent use of ketorolac tromethamine with muscle relaxants has not been formally studied.
- Concomitant use of ACE inhibitorsmay increase the risk of renal impairment, particularly in volume-depleted patients.
- Sporadic cases of seizures have been reported during concomitant use of ketorolac tromethamine andantiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, carbamazepine).
- Hallucinations have been reported when ketorolac tromethamine was used in patients takingpsychoactive drugs (fluoxetine, thiothixene, alprazolam).
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection has been administered concurrently withmorphine in several clinical trials of postoperative pain without evidence of adverse interactions. Do not mix ketorolac tromethamine and morphine in the same syringe.
- There is no evidence in animal or human studies that ketorolac tromethamine induces or inhibits hepatic enzymes capable of metabolizing itself or other drugs.

# Use in Specific Populations

### Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA):
- Reproduction studies have been performed during organogenesis using daily oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine at 3.6 mg/kg (0.37 times the human AUC) in rabbits and at 10 mg/kg (1 times the human AUC) in rats. Results of these studies did not reveal evidence of teratogenicity to the fetus. Oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine at 1.5 mg/kg (0.14 times the human AUC), administered after gestation day 17, caused dystocia and higher pup mortality in rats. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of ketorolac tromethamine in pregnant women. Ketorolac tromethamine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Pregnancy Category (AUS):
- Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) Pregnancy Category
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in women who are pregnant.

### Labor and Delivery
- The use of ketorolac tromethamine is contraindicated in labor and delivery because, through its prostaglandin synthesis inhibitory effect, it may adversely affect fetal circulation and inhibit uterine contractions, thus increasing the risk of uterine hemorrhage

### Nursing Mothers
- After a single administration of 10 mg of ketorolac tromethamine tablets to humans, the maximum milk concentration observed was 7.3 ng/mL, and the maximum milk-to-plasma ratio was 0.037. After 1 day of dosing (qid), the maximum milk concentration was 7.9 ng/mL, and the maximum milk-to-plasma ratio was 0.025. Because of the possible adverse effects of prostaglandin-inhibiting drugs on neonates, use in nursing mothers is CONTRAINDICATED.

### Pediatric Use
- Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients (less than 16 years of age) have not been established. Therefore, use of ketorolac tromethamine in pediatric patients is not recommended.

### Geriatic Use
- Because ketorolac tromethamine may be cleared more slowly by the elderly who are also more sensitive to the adverse effects of NSAIDs, extra caution and reduced dosages must be used when treating the elderly with Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection. The lower end of the Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection dosage range is recommended for patients over 65 years of age, and total daily dose is not to exceed 60 mg. The incidence and severity of gastrointestinal complications increases with increasing dose of, and duration of treatment with, ketorolac tromethamine.

### Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) with respect to specific gender populations.

### Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) with respect to specific racial populations.

### Renal Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in patients with renal impairment.

### Hepatic Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in patients with hepatic impairment.

### Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in women of reproductive potentials and males.

### Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in patients who are immunocompromised.

# Administration and Monitoring

### Administration
- Intravenous

### Monitoring
There is limited information regarding Monitoring of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in the drug label.

# IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding IV Compatibility of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in the drug label.

# Overdosage
- In controlled overdosage, daily doses of 360 mg of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection given for five (5) days (three times the highest recommended dose), caused abdominal pain and peptic ulcers which healed after discontinuation of dosing. Metabolic acidosis has been reported following intentional overdosage. Dialysis does not significantly clear ketorolac tromethamine from the blood stream.

# Pharmacology

## Mechanism of Action

## Structure
- Ketorolac tromethamine is a member of the pyrrolo-pyrrole group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The chemical name for ketorolac tromethamine is ()-5-benzoyl- 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine-1-carboxylic acid, compound with 2-amino- 2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol.
- Ketorolac tromethamine is a racemic mixture of S and R ketorolac tromethamine. Ketorolac tromethamine may exist in three crystal forms. All forms are equally soluble in water. Ketorolac tromethamine has a pKa of 3.5 and an n-octanol/water partition coefficient of 0.26. The molecular weight of ketorolac tromethamine is 376.41.
- Ketorolac tromethamine is available for intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) administration as: 15 mg in 1 mL (1.5%) and 30 mg in 1 mL (3%) in sterile solution; 60 mg in 2 mL (3%) of ketorolac tromethamine in sterile solution is available for IM administration only. The solutions contain 10% (w/v) alcohol, USP, and 6.68 mg, 4.35 mg and 8.70 mg, respectively, of sodium chloride in sterile water. The pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid, and the solutions are packaged with nitrogen. The sterile solutions are clear and slightly yellow in color.

## Pharmacodynamics
- Ketorolac tromethamine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ketorolac tromethamine inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins and may be considered a peripherally acting analgesic. The biological activity of ketorolac tromethamine is associated with the S-form. Ketorolac tromethamine possesses no sedative or anxiolytic properties.
- Pain relief was statistically different after ketorolac tromethamine dosing from that of placebo at 1/2 hour (the first time point at which it was measured) following the largest recommended doses of ketorolac tromethamine and by 1 hour following the smallest recommended doses. The peak analgesic effect occurred within 2 to 3 hours and was not statistically significantly different over the recommended dosage range of ketorolac tromethamine. The greatest difference between large and small doses of ketorolac tromethamine by either route was in the duration of analgesia.

## Pharmacokinetics
- Ketorolac tromethamine is a racemic mixture of S- and R-enantiomeric forms, with the S-form having analgesic activity.
- Comparison of IV, IM and Oral Pharmacokinetics
- The pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine, following IV, IM and oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine are compared in Table 1. The extent of bioavailability following administration of the ORAL and IM forms of ketorolac tromethamine was equal to that following an IV bolus.
- Linear Kinetics
- Following administration of single ORAL, IM or IV doses of ketorolac tromethamine in the recommended dosage ranges, the clearance of the racemate does not change. This implies that the pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine in humans, following single or multiple IM, IV or recommended oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine, are linear. At the higher recommended doses, there is a proportional increase in the concentrations of free and bound racemate.
- Binding and Distribution
- The ketorolac tromethamine racemate has been shown to be highly protein bound (99%). Nevertheless, even plasma concentrations as high as 10 mcg/mL will only occupy approximately 5% of the albumin binding sites. Thus, the unbound fraction for each enantiomer will be constant over the therapeutic range. A decrease in serum albumin, however, will result in increased free drug concentrations.
- The mean apparent volume (V) of ketorolac tromethamine following complete distribution was approximately 13 liters. This parameter was determined from single-dose data.
- Metabolism
- Ketorolac tromethamine is largely metabolized in the liver. The metabolic products are hydroxylated and conjugated forms of the parent drug. The products of metabolism, and some unchanged drug, are excreted in the urine.
- Clearance and Excretion
- A single-dose study with 10 mg ketorolac tromethamine (n=9) demonstrated that the S-enantiomer is cleared approximately two times faster than the R-enantiomer and that the clearance was independent of the route of administration. This means that the ratio of S/R plasma concentrations decreases with time after each dose. There is little or no inversion of the R- to S-form in humans. The clearance of the racemate in normal subjects, elderly individuals and in hepatically and renally impaired patients is outlined in Table 2. The half-life of the ketorolac tromethamine S-enantiomer was approximately 2.5 hours (SD  0.4) compared with 5 hours (SD  1.7) for the R-enantiomer. In other studies, the half-life for the racemate has been reported to lie within the range of 5 to 6 hours.
- Accumulation
- Ketorolac tromethamine administered as an IV bolus every 6 hours for 5 days to healthy subjects (n=13), showed no significant difference in Cmax on Day 1 and Day 5. Trough levels averaged 0.29 mcg/mL (SD 0.13) on Day 1 and 0.55 mcg/mL (SD  0.23) on Day 6. Steady state was approached after the fourth dose.
- Accumulation of ketorolac tromethamine has not been studied in special populations (elderly patients, renal failure patients or hepatic disease patients).
Kinetics in Special Populations
- Elderly Patients:
- Based on single-dose data only, the half-life of the ketorolac tromethamine racemate increased from 5 to 7 hours in the elderly (65 to 78 years) compared with young healthy volunteers (24 to 35 years). There was little difference in the Cmax for the two groups (elderly, 2.52 mcg/mL  0.77; young, 2.99 mcg/mL  1.03).
- Renally Impaired Patients:
- Based on single-dose data only, the mean half-life of ketorolac tromethamine in renally impaired patients is between 6 and 19 hours and is dependent on the extent of the impairment. There is poor correlation between creatinine clearance and total ketorolac tromethamine clearance in the elderly and populations with renal impairment (r=0.5).
- In patients with renal disease, the AUC of each enantiomer increased by approximately 100% compared with healthy volunteers. The volume of distribution doubles for the S-enantiomer and increases by 1/5th for the R-enantiomer. The increase in volume of distribution of ketorolac tromethamine implies an increase in unbound fraction.
- The AUC-ratio of the ketorolac tromethamine enantiomers in healthy subjects and patients remained similar, indicating there was no selective excretion of either enantiomer in patients compared to healthy subjects.
- Hepatic Effects:
- There was no significant difference in estimates of half-life, AUC and Cmax in 7 patients with liver disease compared to healthy volunteers

## Nonclinical Toxicology
- Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis and Impairment of Fertility
- An 18-month study in mice with oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine at 2 mg/kg/day (0.9 times the human systemic exposure at the recommended IM or IV dose of 30 mg qid, based on area-under-the-plasma-concentration curve (AUC), and a 24-month study in rats at 5 mg/kg/day (0.5 times the human AUC) showed no evidence of tumorigenicity.
- Ketorolac tromethamine was not mutagenic in the Ames test, unscheduled DNA synthesis and repair, and in forward mutation assays. Ketorolac tromethamine did not cause chromosome breakage in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay. At 1590 mcg/mL and at higher concentrations, ketorolac tromethamine increased the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovarian cells.
- Impairment of fertility did not occur in male or female rats at oral doses of 9 mg/kg (0.9 times the human AUC) and 16 mg/kg (1.6 times the human AUC) of ketorolac tromethamine, respectively.

# Clinical Studies
There is limited information regarding Clinical Studies of Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) in the drug label.

# How Supplied
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection, USP is available in pre-filled syringes as follows:
- For IV or IM Single-Dose use:
- A syringe containing 1 mL of 15 mg/mL Ketorolac Tromethamine, USP, NDC 10019-021-09, available in boxes of 10.
- A syringe containing 1 mL of 30 mg/mL Ketorolac Tromethamine, USP, NDC 10019-022-09, available in boxes of 10.
- For IM Single-Dose use only:
- A syringe containing 2 mL of 30 mg/mL Ketorolac Tromethamine, USP, (60 mg), NDC 10019-022-32, available in boxes of 10.
- Each disposable syringe is supplied with an individually wrapped 22gauge, 1 1/2 inch needle.
- Directions for use:
- Peel back needle wrapping and expose needle hub; avoid touching hub. Aseptically remove rubber protective cap from the syringe. Attach needle to syringe hub with a twist, keeping needle sheath intact. Remove needle sheath and inject medication. To prevent needle-stick injuries, needles should not be recapped, purposely bent, or broken by hand. Dispose of used syringe in accordance with applicable medical waste regulations and guidelines.
- Store at controlled room temperature 15-30C (59-86F).
- PROTECT FROM LIGHT
- Retain in carton until time of use.

## Storage
There is limited information regarding Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) Storage in the drug label.

# Images

## Drug Images

## Package and Label Display Panel

# Patient Counseling Information
- Information for Patients
- Ketorolac tromethamine is a potent NSAID and may cause serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding or kidney failure, which may result in hospitalization and even fatal outcome. Physicians, when prescribing ketorolac tromethamine, should inform their patients of the potential risks of ketorolac tromethamine treatment. Advise patients not to give ketorolac tromethamine tablets to other family members and to discard any unused drug.
- Remember that the total duration of ketorolac tromethamine therapy is not to exceed five (5) days.

# Precautions with Alcohol
- Alcohol-Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.

# Brand Names
There is limited information regarding Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) Brand Names in the drug label.

# Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Ketorolac tromethamine (injection) Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.

# Drug Shortage Status

# Price