Drug interactions
Ketorolac + Venlafaxine
Severity: Major
Ketorolac and Venlafaxine: major 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
Venlafaxine inhibits serotonin reuptake and can impair platelet function, so combined use with ketorolac increases the risk of bleeding, especially upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketorolac and Venlafaxine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Ketorolac belongs to Musculoskeletal; Venlafaxine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Depletion of platelet serotonin plus NSAID cyclooxygenase inhibition and gastric mucosal injury.
What to do
Avoid prolonged co-use, keep ketorolac courses short, consider a proton pump inhibitor, and monitor for gastrointestinal bleeding.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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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 Venlafaxine
- Isocarboxazid + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketorolac with Venlafaxine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Ketorolac and Venlafaxine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Venlafaxine inhibits serotonin reuptake and can impair platelet function, so combined use with ketorolac increases the risk of bleeding, especially upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
How serious is the interaction between Ketorolac and Venlafaxine?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid prolonged co-use, keep ketorolac courses short, consider a proton pump inhibitor, and monitor for gastrointestinal bleeding.
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.
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