What is a Toradol shot?
Toradol was the brand name for ketorolac. The brand is no longer sold, but the generic is, and most people still call it Toradol.
Ketorolac is a prescription NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), in the same family as ibuprofen and naproxen. It is not an opioid.
A Toradol shot is an IM shot: a nurse or other healthcare provider injects it into a muscle. It is not a shot you give yourself.
How long does it last?
The FDA label gives this timing for a dose given as a shot or through an IV:
- The effect usually begins in about half an hour
- It is strongest at about 1 to 2 hours
- It usually lasts 4 to 6 hours
How long it stays in your body
The medicine itself takes longer to clear. Its half-life, the time it takes for half of a dose to leave your blood, is about 5 to 6 hours. When more than one dose is ordered, they are usually spaced about 6 hours apart.
Everyone is different, so your own timing may not match the label.
The 5-day limit
Ketorolac is for short-term use only. The FDA label caps it at 5 days in total, counting shots, IVs and tablets together, because side effects become more likely with longer use.
If you have had ketorolac anywhere else in the last few days, tell your nurse.
Side effects of a Toradol shot
These are on the FDA label list of common side effects:
- Headache
- Indigestion, heartburn or stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Itching
- Pain where the shot goes in
What to tell your nurse
Less often, NSAIDs like ketorolac can cause bleeding in the stomach or gut, other bleeding problems, or kidney problems. Tell your nurse if you have had ulcers, stomach bleeding, a bleeding disorder or kidney disease, and list the medicines you take, especially ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin or a blood thinner.
At DrpIV+, a nurse or paramedic comes to your home, office or hotel. Toradol can be a shot on its own, an add-in to a drip, or part of the Migraine or Hangover drip. You fill out a short medical form first, and your nurse checks your vitals before anything else.
