What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ketorolac and nabumetone
Ketorolac's FDA label (Sprix) of December 5, 2024 names nabumetone in its drug interactions section; nabumetone's label does not name ketorolac itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The ketorolac label: “Concomitant use of SPRIX and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity.”
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC); the nabumetone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 13, 2025, ScieGen Pharmaceuticals Inc).
What does the ketorolac label say about nabumetone?
Sprix label (Zyla Life Sciences US LLC, December 5, 2024), drug interactionsPemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of SPRIX and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity (…). … regarding potential interaction between pemetrexed and NSAIDs with longer half-lives (e.g., meloxicam, nabumetone), patients taking these NSAIDs should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration.
Source: FDA drug label (Sprix, NDA022382), Zyla Life Sciences US LLC, effective December 5, 2024 (SPL set 97005a1c-167e-4676-bae7-e49b38c36f9e), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Ketorolac Tromethamine), Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, effective August 31, 2023 (SPL set 3d88cbe6-5230-47aa-80af-0c41283d1f00), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the nabumetone label say about ketorolac?
Nabumetone's label does not name ketorolac itself; it warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)):
Nabumetone label, boxed warningNSAIDs 1 cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.
Nabumetone label, boxed warningCardiovascular Thrombotic Events Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal.
Source: FDA drug label (Nabumetone), ScieGen Pharmaceuticals Inc, effective January 13, 2025 (SPL set 80c6888d-03b4-44f3-b94d-bcf5154ceae5), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Ketorolac | Nabumetone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.02 per mL 30 mg/mL vial | $0.128 per tablet 500 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once