How Ketorolac Works: Mechanism, Uses, and Safety

When you hear about ketorolac, a powerful non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drug used for short‑term pain relief, you might wonder what makes it so effective. It belongs to the NSAID, a class of medicines that reduce inflammation by targeting specific enzymes and works by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase, the enzyme family (COX‑1 and COX‑2) that creates prostaglandins. In plain terms, ketorolac blocks cyclooxygenase, which cuts the production of prostaglandins, and those chemicals are the main drivers of pain, fever, and swelling. This chain—ketorolac blocks cyclooxygenase, cyclooxygenase makes prostaglandins, prostaglandins cause pain—forms the core of its action. Because it hits the pathway hard, patients feel relief within 30 minutes, often after a single dose. The drug’s rapid onset and strong effect make it a go‑to for post‑surgical pain or acute injuries when doctors need something fast‑acting but limited to a few days of use.