Ketorolac injection comes as 15 mg/mL, 30 mg/mL, and 60 mg/2 mL single-dose vials. The 60 mg/2 mL vial is the same concentration as the 30 mg/mL one, and it's labeled for intramuscular use only. Here's how to order it without mixing them up.
· 3 min read
Written and clinically reviewed by Jacob Fuchs, PharmD
Reviewed on
Ketorolac tromethamine injection, the generic for the original Toradol injection, comes as 15 mg/mL, 30 mg/mL, and 60 mg/2 mL. Hospira sells all three as single-dose glass vials in cartons of 25 (Pfizer). The 60 mg/2 mL vial is labeled "FOR INTRAMUSCULAR USE ONLY" (Pfizer label).
Here's the detail that causes most of the ordering mistakes: 60 mg/2 mL is 30 mg/mL. It's the same concentration in twice the volume. If someone orders "ketorolac 30" without the NDC, you could get either one.
From Pfizer's Hospira listing (Pfizer):
| Strength | Fill | NDCs (tray of 25 / carton of 25) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mg/mL | 1 mL | 0409-3793-01 / 0409-3793-25 | Single-dose vial |
| 30 mg/mL | 1 mL | 0409-3795-01 / 0409-3795-25 | Single-dose vial |
| 60 mg/2 mL (30 mg/mL) | 2 mL | 0409-3796-01 / 0409-3796-25 | Single-dose vial; IM only |
Other manufacturers sell ketorolac in vials and prefilled syringes, each with its own NDC and label. Check the one you buy.
Because there's no multi-dose version to stretch. A single-dose vial is for one patient and one injection. CDC says never to use one for more than one patient, and never to save leftovers for later, "even on the same patient" (CDC).
So if your clinicians usually give less than a full vial, you're paying for the rest whether you use it or not. That's a strength-selection conversation to have with them, not something to fix by stretching vials. More on the rules in single-dose vs. multiple-dose vials.
Ketorolac carries a long boxed warning. Purchasing doesn't administer it, but you should know it's there, because it's the reason clinicians are particular about which product they want. The Hospira label's boxed warning covers (Pfizer label):
The label also says the combined duration of oral and injectable ketorolac "should not exceed 5 days."
From the Hospira labeling (Pfizer):
The vials also contain 10% (w/v) alcohol (Pfizer label). Worth knowing if a clinician asks what's in it.
Premier Pharma supplies licensed urgent care centers, physician offices, surgery centers, and pharmacies, and every invoice lists the lot number and expiration date for each item. We carry Fosun Pharma ketorolac in 30 mg/mL 1 mL vials and 60 mg/2 mL vials, 25 per carton. Those are exactly the two that get mixed up, so check which one you're adding to your cart. For a broader procedure-area checklist, see our anesthesia supplies purchasing guide. Open a free account. Credential review typically takes 1–2 business days.
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