Search

Home > Emergency Medical Minute > Episode 945: Ketorolac vs. Ibuprofen
Podcast: Emergency Medical Minute
Episode:

Episode 945: Ketorolac vs. Ibuprofen
Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:03:30
Publish Date: 2025-02-24 11:00:00
Description:

Contributor: Ricky Dhaliwal, MD

Educational Pearls: 

  • Ketorolac and ibuprofen are NSAIDs with equivalent efficacy for pain in the emergency department

    • Oral ibuprofen provides the same relief as intramuscular ketorolac

    • IM ketorolac is associated with the adverse effect of a painful injection

    • IM ketorolac is slightly faster in onset but not significant

    • Studies have assessed the two medications in head-to-head randomized-controlled trials and found no significant difference in pain scores

  • IM ketorolac takes longer to administer and has a higher cost

  • Ketorolac dosing

    • Commonly given in 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg doses

    • However, higher doses are associated with more adverse effects

      • Gastrointestinal upset, nausea, and bleeding risk

    • Studies have demonstrated equal efficacy in pain reduction with lower doses

References

  1. Motov S, Yasavolian M, Likourezos A, et al. Comparison of Intravenous Ketorolac at Three Single-Dose Regimens for Treating Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Emerg Med. 2017;70(2):177-184. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.10.014

  2. Neighbor ML, Puntillo KA. Intramuscular ketorolac vs oral ibuprofen in emergency department patients with acute pain. Acad Emerg Med. 1998;5(2):118-122. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02595.x

Summarized & Edited by Jorge Chalit, OMS3

Donate: https://emergencymedicalminute.org/donate/

 
Total Play: 0

Users also like

800+ Episodes
Radioresepsj .. 700+     10+
20+ Episodes
Lung Story S .. 70+     10+