Drug interactions
Budesonide + Ketorolac
Severity: Moderate
Budesonide and Ketorolac: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Corticosteroids and NSAIDs both damage the gastrointestinal mucosa, and using them together raises the risk of peptic ulceration and bleeding. Ketorolac carries a particularly high GI and bleeding risk, even though budesonide has lower systemic exposure than other corticosteroids.
What this interaction means in plain words
Budesonide and Ketorolac can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Budesonide belongs to Respiratory; Ketorolac belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic effects: NSAID inhibition of prostaglandin-mediated mucosal protection plus corticosteroid impairment of mucosal healing.
What to do
Use the lowest effective ketorolac dose for the shortest time (labeled maximum 5 days) and consider adding a proton pump inhibitor. Monitor for GI bleeding signs such as melena or abdominal pain.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Budesonide and Ketorolac, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Budesonide
Other interactions of Ketorolac
- Aceclofenac + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Apixaban + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Argatroban + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Aspirin / citric acid / sodium bicarbonate + Ketorolac Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Budesonide with Ketorolac?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Budesonide and Ketorolac can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Corticosteroids and NSAIDs both damage the gastrointestinal mucosa, and using them together raises the risk of peptic ulceration and bleeding. Ketorolac carries a particularly high GI and bleeding risk, even though budesonide has lower systemic exposure than other corticosteroids.
How serious is the interaction between Budesonide and Ketorolac?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective ketorolac dose for the shortest time (labeled maximum 5 days) and consider adding a proton pump inhibitor. Monitor for GI bleeding signs such as melena or abdominal pain.
What other medicines interact with Budesonide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Budesonide with, for example, Aldesleukin, Atazanavir, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Budesonide page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
