Ketorolac tromethamine: an oral/injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory for postoperative pain control

Ketorolac tromethamine is a new injectable/oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic with no apparent opiate receptor activity that has been administered alone and in combination with other opiate analgesics for the treatment of postoperative pain. The drug has shown promise in analgesic comparisons with morphine sulfate; it lacks the effects of respiratory depression and nausea and vomiting usually associated with narcotic agents. Intramuscular ketorolac may be particularly useful with those patients who have respiratory disease and patients being dismissed following short ambulatory or private-office anesthetic procedures.