General
TORADOL cannot be expected to substitute for corticosteroids or to treat corticosteroid
insufficiency. Abrupt discontinuation of corticosteroids may lead to disease
exacerbation. Patients on prolonged corticosteroid therapy should have their
therapy tapered slowly if a decision is made to discontinue corticosteroids.
The pharmacological activity of TORADOL in reducing inflammation may diminish
the utility of this diagnostic sign in detecting complications of presumed noninfectious,
painful conditions.
Hepatic Effect
TORADOL should be used with caution in patients with impaired hepatic function
or a history of liver disease. Borderline elevations of one or more liver tests
may occur in up to 15% of patients taking NSAIDs including TORADOL. These laboratory
abnormalities may progress, may remain unchanged, or may be transient with continuing
therapy. Notable elevations of ALT or AST (approximately three or more times
the upper limit of normal) have been reported in approximately 1% of patients
in clinical trials with NSAIDs. In addition, rare cases of severe hepatic reactions,
including jaundice and fatal fulminant hepatitis, liver necrosis and hepatic
failure, some of them with fatal outcomes have been reported.
A patient with symptoms and/or signs suggesting liver dysfunction, or in whom
an abnormal liver test has occurred, should be evaluated for evidence of the
development of a more severe hepatic reaction while on therapy with TORADOL.
If clinical signs and symptoms consistent with liver disease develop, or if
systemic manifestations occur (eg, eosinophilia, rash, etc.), TORADOL should
be discontinued.
Hematologic Effect
Anemia is sometimes seen in patients receiving NSAIDs, including TORADOL. This
may be due to fluid retention, occult or gross GI blood loss, or an incompletely
described effect upon erythropoiesis. Patients on long-term treatment with NSAIDs,
including TORADOL, should have their hemoglobin or hematocrit checked if they
exhibit any signs or symptoms of anemia. NSAIDs inhibit platelet aggregation
and have been shown to prolong bleeding time in some patients. Unlike aspirin,
their effect on platelet function is quantitatively less, of shorter duration,
and reversible. Patients receiving TORADOL who may be adversely affected by
alterations in platelet function, such as those with coagulation disorders or
patients receiving anticoagulants, should be carefully monitored.
Preexisting Asthma
Patients with asthma may have aspirin-sensitive asthma. The use of aspirin
in patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma has been associated with severe bronchospasm
which can be fatal. Since cross reactivity, including bronchospasm, between
aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been reported in
such aspirin-sensitive patients, TORADOL should not be administered to patients
with this form of aspirin sensitivity and should be used with caution in patients
with preexisting asthma.
Information for Patients
TORADOL is a potent NSAID and may cause serious side effects such as gastrointestinal
bleeding or kidney failure, which may result in hospitalization and even fatal
outcome.
Physicians, when prescribing TORADOL, should inform their patients or their
guardians of the potential risks of TORADOL treatment (see BOXED
WARNING, WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, and ADVERSE
REACTIONS sections), instruct patients to seek medical advice if they
develop treatment-related adverse events, and advise patients not to give
TORADOLORAL to other family members and to discard any unused drug.
Remember that the total combined duration of use of TORADOLORAL
and IV or IM dosing of ketorolac tromethamine is not to exceed 5 days in adults.
TORADOLORAL is not indicated for use in pediatric patients.
Patients should be informed of the following information before initiating
therapy with an NSAID and periodically during the course of ongoing therapy.
Patients should also be encouraged to read the NSAID Medication
Guide that accompanies each prescription dispensed.
- TORADOL, like other NSAIDs, may cause serious CV side effects, such as MI
or stroke, which may result in hospitalization and even death. Although serious
CV events can occur without warning symptoms, patients should be alert for
the signs and symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, slurring
of speech, and should ask for medical advice when observing any indicative
sign or symptoms. Patients should be apprised of the importance of this follow-up
(see WARNINGS: Cardiovascular Effects).
- TORADOL, like other NSAIDs, can cause GI discomfort and rarely, serious
GI side effects, such as ulcers and bleeding, which may result in hospitalization
and even death. Although serious GI tract ulcerations and bleeding can occur
without warning symptoms, patients should be alert for the signs and symptoms
of ulcerations and bleeding, and should ask for medical advice when observing
any indicative sign or symptoms including epigastric pain, dyspepsia, melena,
and hematemesis. Patients should be apprised of the importance of this follow-up
(see WARNINGS: Gastrointestinal Effects - Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding,
and Perforation).
- TORADOL, like other NSAIDs, can cause serious skin side effects such as
exfoliative dermatitis, SJS, and TEN, which may result in hospitalizations
and even death. Although serious skin reactions may occur without warning,
patients should be alert for the signs and symptoms of skin rash and blisters,
fever, or other signs of hypersensitivity such as itching, and should ask
for medical advice when observing any indicative signs or symptoms. Patients
should be advised to stop the drug immediately if they develop any type of
rash and contact their physicians as soon as possible.
- Patients should promptly report signs or symptoms of unexplained weight
gain or edema to their physicians.
- Patients should be informed of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity
(eg, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pruritus, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness,
and “flu-like” symptoms). If these occur, patients should be instructed
to stop therapy and seek immediate medical therapy.
- Patients should be informed of the signs of an anaphylactoid reaction (eg,
difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat). If these occur, patients
should be instructed to seek immediate emergency help (see WARNINGS).
- In late pregnancy, as with other NSAIDs, TORADOL should be avoided because
it will cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus.
Laboratory Tests
Because serious GI tract ulcerations and bleeding can occur without warning
symptoms, physicians should monitor for signs or symptoms of GI bleeding. Patients
on long-term treatment with NSAIDs, should have their CBC and a chemistry profile
checked periodically. If clinical signs and symptoms consistent with liver or
renal disease develop, systemic manifestations occur (eg, eosinophilia, rash,
etc.) or if abnormal liver tests persist or worsen, TORADOL should be discontinued.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis and Impairment of Fertility
An 18-month study in mice with oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine at 2 mg/kg/day
(0.9 times the human systemic exposure at the recommended IM or IV dose of 30
mg qid, based on area-under-the-plasma-concentration curve [AUC]), and a 24-month
study in rats at 5 mg/kg/day (0.5 times the human AUC) showed no evidence of
tumorigenicity. Ketorolac tromethamine was not mutagenic in the Ames test, unscheduled
DNA synthesis and repair, and in forward mutation assays.
Ketorolac tromethamine did not cause chromosome breakage in the in vivo mouse
micronucleus assay. At 1590 μg/mL and at higher concentrations, ketorolac
tromethamine increased the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster
ovarian cells.
Impairment of fertility did not occur in male or female rats at oral doses
of 9 mg/kg (0.9 times the human AUC) and 16 mg/kg (1.6 times the human AUC)
of ketorolac tromethamine, respectively.
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category C
Reproduction studies have been performed during organogenesis using daily oral
doses of ketorolac tromethamine at 3.6 mg/kg (0.37 times the human AUC) in rabbits
and at 10 mg/kg (1.0 times the human AUC) in rats. Results of these studies
did not reveal evidence of teratogenicity to the fetus. However, animal reproduction
studies are not always predictive of human response.
Nonteratogenic Effects
Because of the known effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the
fetal cardiovascular system (closure of ductus arteriosus), use during pregnancy
(particularly late pregnancy) should be avoided. Oral doses of ketorolac tromethamine
at 1.5 mg/kg (0.14 times the human AUC), administered after gestation Day 17,
caused dystocia and higher pup mortality in rats.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of TORADOL in pregnant women.
TORADOL should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies
the potential risk to the fetus.
Labor and Delivery
The use of TORADOL is contraindicated in labor and delivery because, through
its prostaglandin synthesis inhibitory effect, it may adversely affect fetal
circulation and inhibit uterine contractions, thus increasing the risk of uterine
hemorrhage (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
Effects on Fertility
The use of ketorolac tromethamine, as with any drug known to inhibit cyclooxygenase/prostaglandin
synthesis, may impair fertility and is not recommended in women attempting to
conceive. In women who have difficulty conceiving or are undergoing investigation
of infertility, withdrawal of ketorolac tromethamine should be considered.
Nursing Mothers
After a single administration of 10 mg of TORADOLORAL to humans,
the maximum milk concentration observed was 7.3 ng/mL, and the maximum milk-to-plasma
ratio was 0.037. After 1 day of dosing (qid), the maximum milk concentration
was 7.9 ng/mL, and the maximum milk-to-plasma ratio was 0.025. Because of the
possible adverse effects of prostaglandin-inhibiting drugs on neonates, use
in nursing mothers is contraindicated.
Pediatric Use
TORADOLORAL is not indicated for use in pediatric patients. The
safety and effectiveness of TORADOLORAL in pediatric patients below
the age of 17 have not been established.
Geriatric Use ( ≥ 65 years of age)
Because ketorolac tromethamine may be cleared more slowly by the elderly (see
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY) who are also more
sensitive to the dose-related adverse effects of NSAIDs (see WARNINGS: Gastrointestinal
Effects - Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding, and Perforation), extreme caution,
reduced dosages (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION),
and careful clinical monitoring must be used when treating the elderly with
TORADOL.
Last updated on RxList: 12/17/2007