Ketorolac
Ketorolac is a Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by blocking cyclooxygenase, reducing the synthesis of prostaglandins. The reduction of prostaglandins prevents inflammation which aids to reduce pain and fever. Essentially ketorolac helps to manage moderate to severe levels of pain short term.
I believe the drug is revolutionary owing to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. It serves different groups of individuals by helping them to treat pain. There are various forms to administer the drug intravenously, intranasally or intramuscularly (Sinha, Kumar & Singh, 2009). First, it is as an adjunct for general anaesthesia for surgery and other medical procedures. For example, we administer it to reduce pain after surgery or as an eye drop to reduce ocular itching and corneal abrasions. Its introduction to the market helped to reduce the use of morphine a potent pain reliever which is a powerful narcotic drug. Morphine falls under schedule II in the regulation of drugs as there is a high potential for its abuse as it can be substituted for heroin. Unlike morphine, Ketorolac has less severe symptoms and is not a habit-forming drug (IBM Micromedex, 2020).
We can also use ketorolac to treat dysmenorrhea during menstrual periods. With women who experience intense period pains their wombs synthesis too many prostaglandins increasing inflammation. NSAIDs work to reduce inflammation in the belly, reducing pain. Ketorolac aids in the treatment of idiopathic pericarditis as it rapidly relieves symptoms (Lilly, 2013). Idiopathic pericarditis is a condition that involves the inflammation of the pericardium, which is a sac that acts as a wall to the heart.The use of ketorolac is more effective at the onset of the disease.
Never the less like any other medication there are some contraindications to its use. Such conditions include tobacco smoking or drug abuse, chronic kidney diseases, high blood pressure, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory diseases, allergies and pregnancies. It is vital to use the medication under the direction of a physician, and one should not exceed the 5-6 recommended days. Ketorolac. As medical practitioners, we have to take into account such pre-existing conditions when dealing with the prescription of the NSAID. In pregnant women, we do not recommend the use of Ketorolac in the first and last trimester of pregnancy as there is a risk of adverse effects to the fetus. Additionally, the drug appears in breast milk as it has a half-life of 5.5 hours; therefore, the infant will ingest it (Sinha, Kumar & Singh, 2009).
IBM Micromedex (2020) asserts that ketorolac stays in the body of older patients longer, which increases the risk of side effects from the drug. If it causes stomach pains or bleeding, then the geriatric patient can get extremely sick. The use of the drug with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions increases the risk of myocardial infarctions, strokes and eventually death with increased periods of use. Also, ketorolac inhibits the functioning of platelets which prevents the clotting of blood; thus, it is contraindicated for patients with hemorrhagic diathesis conditions or diabetes. The notable side effects of the drug include headaches, nausea, pain when passing out urine, sweating loss of appetite and unexplained weight gain.
NSAID are essential drugs whose sales are skyrocketing with each passing day. It is, however, necessary to adhere to the physician’s advice when using such medications. That is because there are server effects that the drug can cause and the worst being death. Notably, ketorolac ought not to be sold over the counter without a valid prescription after all one man’s food is another man’s poison.
References
IBM Micromedex. (2020). Ketorolac oral route, injection route. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ketorolac-oral-route-injection-route/before-using/drg-20066882?p=1.
Lilly, L. (2013). Treatment of acute and recurrent idiopathic pericarditis. AHA journals, 127(16), 1723-1726. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.066365.
Sinha, V., Kumar, R., Singh G. (2009). Ketorolac tromethamine formulations: an overview, 6 (9), 961-975. doi:10.1517/17425240903116006.