When it comes to pain management, Toradol (Ketorolac) offers many advantages over other medications. For starters, it’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs). Meaning, it can prevent severe pain that was previously treated with an addictive opioid.
That said, Toradol has its fair share of risks. Understanding its effectiveness is important for your safety.
Today, we’ll discuss everything you should know about Toradol, including how long it typically lasts in your system!
Table of Contents
- What Is Toradol?
- How Long Does Toradol Last in Your Body?
- How Long Is Toradol Effective For?
- Factors That Affect Toradol’s Effectiveness
- How Long Should You Be Using Toradol For?
- Does Toradol Have Interactions With Other Medications?
- Can You Use Toradol With Pain Medications?
- Can Pregnant Women Take Toradol?
- Toradol Misuse and Pain Management Challenges: How We Can Help
- Conclusion
What Is Toradol?
Toradol is the brand name for ketorolac, a type of drug known as an NSAID. It’s an FDA-approved pain relief medication typically used after surgeries.
Toradol can relieve patients from moderate to severe pain without causing addiction. However, you can only use it in the short term because of its many side effects.
You can’t buy ketorolac over the counter. Moreover, you and your doctor must decide whether the side effects are worth it.
If you’re using Toradol for pain management, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully. Never use it for longer than advised.
How Long Does Toradol Last in Your Body?
The half-life of ketorolac is five to six hours. This means it takes your body five to six hours to process half of the Toradol at a time.
To fully get rid of Toradol, your body must process the medication 5.5 times in total.
In short, Toradol stays in your system for over 33 hours (6 hours x 5.5) after you’ve consumed it. During this time, you mustn’t take other medications that may interact with the Toradol unless advised by your doctor.
Note that how long Toradol lasts depends on factors like age and pre-existing health conditions. We’ll discuss this further below.
How Long Is Toradol Effective For?
Even though Toradol stays in your system for 33 hours, that doesn’t mean it’s effective throughout that period.
In general, you’ll start feeling Toradol within 30 minutes of administration.
Toradol is most effective one to two hours after you’ve first consumed it. The feeling of pain relief may wear off after four to six hours.
To address this, your doctor may give you another dose of Ketorolac after six hours. The second dose may either be oral or through injection.
Note that you must not take Toradol for more than five days. Otherwise, your risk of encountering side effects significantly increases!
Toradol Risks and Side Effects
Following your doctor’s instructions, dosages, and medication time is vital when taking Toradol. Risks and side effects can occur when you use Toradol for longer than five days.
Below are just some of the common side effects of Toradol.
- Gastrointestinal issues like stomach pain, upset stomach, indigestion, constipation, and ulcers
- Allergic reactions and severe skin rash
- Unexpected weight gain
- Kidney damage
- High blood pressure, chest pain, stroke, and heart attack
- Drowsiness
Please call a healthcare professional at once if you experience these symptoms when taking NSAIDs like Toradol!
Factors That Affect Toradol’s Effectiveness
The effectiveness of Toradol can vary depending on several factors. In this section, we discuss some pointers from the FDA.
1. Age
The FDA’s clinical studies show that age plays a significant role in how long Toradol stays in your system.
Adults
In healthy adults aged 24 to 35, Toradol’s effects last for four to six hours. The drug stays in your system for up to 33 hours.
Geriatric Patients
Toradol stays longer in elderly patients aged 65 to 78. A single ketorolac tromethamine shot can stay for up to seven hours.
Older patients have a higher risk of experiencing the side effects. In particular, they’re more prone to encounter gastrointestinal issues.
Plus, Toradol can also result in swelling faces and legs.
Children
Studies showed that a single intravenous toradol shot can last 7.4 hours in kids. Because of this, ketorolac injections are not recommended for children.
Should your doctor decide Toradol is necessary, they must adjust the dosage they give to younger patients.
2. Health Condition
How long the toradol shot lasts in the body is also affected by your health condition.
Renal-Impaired Patients
Patients with kidney disease and kidney problems will have difficulty removing a Toradol shot from their system. The drug can stay up to 19 hours in your body, depending on the severity of your renal impairment.
Hepatic Issues
Fortunately, those with hepatic issues and liver disease seem to have the same reaction as healthy adults.
3. Type of Toradol
There are two types of ketorolac. Ketorolac tromethamine with an S-enantiomer clears two times faster than an R-enantiomer.
The half-life of the S-enantiomer is 2.5 hours in healthy adults. On the other hand, R-enantiomer ketorolac has a half-life of five hours.
4. Method of Administration
You can receive Toradol in various forms, and how long it stays in your system can differ depending on the administration.
Toradol Injection
You’ll first receive Toradol via injection. A Toradol shot like this lasts up to six hours in healthy adults.
Oral Toradol
After six hours, your doctor may give you an oral form of Toradol. Oral Toradol also lasts around the same time as the intramuscular Toradol injection.
Nasal Spray
Ketorolac comes as a nasal spray under a different brand name, Sprix. This nasal spray is as potent as the oral tablets. You can’t use it for more than five days.
Eye Drops
Lastly, those who have undergone eye surgery may receive ketorolac eye drops. It’s less potent compared to oral tablets, injections, and sprays.
You may use ketorolac eye drops for up to 14 days.
5. Metabolism
In general, Toradol injections stay longer in patients with a higher body mass. The reason may be that these patients have a slower metabolism than healthy-weight adults.
6. Dosage
Last but not least, the higher the dosage of Toradol shot you receive, the longer it’ll stay in your body.
The FDA says patients below 65 must not receive more than 60 mg of intramuscular and 30 mg of intravenous Toradol per dose. The maximum daily dose should also not exceed 120 mg.
7. Food
Healthcare professionals may tell you to take Toradol with food to ease its negative effects on your stomach. That said, eating a high-fat meal can affect its effectiveness.
Recent studies show that having Toradol with a fatty meal can delay its effectiveness by an hour. Be sure to ask your doctor about it, especially if you’re on certain diets.
How Long Should You Be Using Toradol For?
The FDA strongly warns against using Toradol for more than five days. This includes the combined duration of Toradol shots and oral medication.
If you’re still experiencing pain after five days, ask your doctor about switching to alternative analgesics!
Does Toradol Have Interactions With Other Medications?
Yes. NSAIDs like Toradol can interact with other medications. Toradol doesn’t do well with Advil (ibuprofen), naproxen, and aspirin. It’s also risky to use Toradol with diuretics as they can affect your kidneys.
Be cautious when you’re taking blood thinners. Toradol can inhibit the clumping of platelets, causing bleeding complications.
Be sure to also ask your doctor about any supplements you’re taking to avoid serious side effects. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any negative reactions.
Can You Use Toradol With Pain Medications?
Using Toradol with other pain medications is possible with strict medical supervision.
Some doctors may prescribe Toradol along with other opioids. Doing this allows them to lessen your dosage of addictive opioids.
You should consider serious side effects before combining Toradol with other pain medications.
Can Pregnant Women Take Toradol?
Using Toradol as a pain reliever is not safe for pregnant women. The medication can potentially cause cardiovascular issues in the fetus.
Toradol is not advisable for use during childbirth because of the risk of uterine hemorrhage.
Additionally, women should avoid Toradol if they are breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
Toradol Misuse and Pain Management Challenges: How We Can Help
While Toradol is not addictive like other narcotics, people experiencing pain may still misuse it.
Remember, combining Toradol with other addictive substances can have serious consequences. The prolonged use of Toradol can also lead to various health risks.
So, if you or a loved one is struggling with overusing Toradol, we at Long Island Treatment Center are here to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to us for a quick phone assessment!
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that Toradol is a lifesaver when it comes to pain treatment. It isn’t addictive, unlike other opioids, and it’s effective for treating severe pain.
Still, Toradol is a strong NSAID that can have various health risks when you use it for a prolonged time. Taking Toradol for more than five days makes you prone to gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and heart problems.
To use Toradol safely, it’s important to know how long it lasts in your body. In general, it can take up to 33 hours for the Toradol to leave your system if you’re young and healthy.
Please always follow your doctor’s advice on the proper usage of Toradol and be sure to reach out if you need help!