Drug interactions
Ketorolac + Saw palmetto
Severity: Moderate
Ketorolac and Saw palmetto: 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
Saw palmetto has been associated with isolated reports of bleeding and may have mild antiplatelet effects, which could add to the bleeding risk of ketorolac. The evidence is limited and the interaction is largely theoretical.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketorolac and Saw palmetto 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.
Ketorolac belongs to Musculoskeletal; Saw palmetto belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Possible weak antiplatelet activity of saw palmetto adds to NSAID platelet inhibition and gastric injury; the mechanism is not firmly established.
What to do
Advise patients to report bleeding or bruising, and consider stopping saw palmetto before surgery or if ketorolac is needed.
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 Ketorolac and Saw palmetto, 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 Saw palmetto
- Aspirin rectal + Saw palmetto Moderate
- Aspirin + Saw palmetto Moderate
- Dabigatran + Saw palmetto Moderate
- Desirudin + Saw palmetto Moderate
- Meclofenamate + Saw palmetto Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Saw palmetto Minor
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketorolac with Saw palmetto?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketorolac and Saw palmetto 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. Saw palmetto has been associated with isolated reports of bleeding and may have mild antiplatelet effects, which could add to the bleeding risk of ketorolac. The evidence is limited and the interaction is largely theoretical.
How serious is the interaction between Ketorolac and Saw palmetto?
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 report bleeding or bruising, and consider stopping saw palmetto before surgery or if ketorolac is needed.
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.
