Drug interactions
Garlic + Ketorolac
Severity: Moderate
Garlic 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
Garlic supplements have antiplatelet activity, and ketorolac strongly inhibits platelet function and can injure the gastric mucosa. Together they may raise the risk of bruising and clinically important bleeding, including gastrointestinal bleeding.
What this interaction means in plain words
Garlic 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.
Garlic belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Ketorolac belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive impairment of platelet aggregation (ketorolac via COX-1 inhibition, garlic via antiplatelet constituents).
What to do
Advise patients to stop garlic supplements while on ketorolac, and monitor for signs of bleeding. Ketorolac should only be used short-term.
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 Garlic 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.
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
Other interactions of Garlic
- Garlic + Saquinavir Major
- Aceclofenac + Garlic Moderate
- Acemetacin + Garlic Moderate
- Aescin + Garlic Moderate
- Alteplase + Garlic Moderate
- Argatroban + Garlic Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Garlic with Ketorolac?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Garlic 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. Garlic supplements have antiplatelet activity, and ketorolac strongly inhibits platelet function and can injure the gastric mucosa. Together they may raise the risk of bruising and clinically important bleeding, including gastrointestinal bleeding.
How serious is the interaction between Garlic 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: Advise patients to stop garlic supplements while on ketorolac, and monitor for signs of bleeding. Ketorolac should only be used short-term.
What other medicines interact with Ketorolac?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ketorolac with, for example, Aceclofenac, Acemetacin, Acetylsalicylic acid. The full list is on the Ketorolac 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.
