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diflunisal vs ketorolac

Side-by-side comparison of diflunisal and ketorolac Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
diflunisal Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
ketorolac Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Type
diflunisal Prescription
ketorolac Prescription
Summary
diflunisal

Diflunisal is a medicine that can help with pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.

ketorolac

Ketorolac (Toradol) is a strong pain reliever. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

What It Treats
diflunisal

Diflunisal can help with mild to moderate pain. It can also treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You should use the lowest dose that works for you, for the shortest time needed.

ketorolac

Ketorolac is used for short-term relief of moderate to severe pain. It is often used after surgery. You should only use it for up to 5 days.

How It Works
diflunisal

Diflunisal reduces pain and swelling by blocking the production of certain chemicals in your body. These chemicals cause inflammation and pain. By blocking them, diflunisal helps to relieve your symptoms.

ketorolac

Ketorolac reduces pain by blocking the production of substances called prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain. By reducing prostaglandins, ketorolac helps to alleviate pain.

Common Side Effects
diflunisal
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Upset stomach
  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
ketorolac
  • Stomach pain
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Upset stomach
  • Gas
  • Feeling full
FAERS Reports
diflunisal
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 66
  • Feeling very tired 57
  • Discomfort or aching 50
  • Allergic reaction to the medicine 47
  • Pain in your head 45
ketorolac

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
diflunisal

NSAIDs like diflunisal can increase your risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke, which can be deadly. This risk is higher if you take it for a long time. You should not take diflunisal if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also raise your risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can also be deadly. Older adults are at higher risk for these stomach problems.

ketorolac

Ketorolac can cause stomach ulcers, bleeding, and holes in the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. It can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. Ketorolac is not for long-term use or for treating minor pain. Do not take it before major surgery. It can also cause kidney problems and bleeding problems.

Pregnancy
diflunisal

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking diflunisal late in pregnancy may harm your baby. It is not known if diflunisal passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

ketorolac

Ketorolac may harm your unborn baby. Do not use ketorolac during labor and delivery. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This diflunisal vs ketorolac Comparison

diflunisal is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while ketorolac sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diflunisal has 265 submissions while ketorolac has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between diflunisal and ketorolac — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.