In which patient population should ketorolac dosing be decreased?

In which patient population should ketorolac dosing be decreased?

• A. Healthy young adults
• B. Elderly and CKD
• C. Children
• D. Pregnant

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that ketorolac dosing must be reduced in populations with reduced kidney function or aging-related decline in renal function because it is cleared by the kidneys and can impair renal perfusion further. In elderly patients, renal function often declines with age, so the risk of NSAID-related nephrotoxicity increases; reducing the dose helps limit drug accumulation and kidney stress. In chronic kidney disease, clearance is significantly impaired, so even standard doses can accumulate and raise the risk of acute kidney injury and other toxic effects; dosing should be decreased or, in many cases, avoided altogether with alternative analgesics considered. In contrast, healthy young adults typically have preserved renal function and can usually receive standard dosing, while children require weight-based dosing with careful monitoring, and pregnancy adds additional cautions about NSAID use.

The main idea here is that ketorolac dosing must be reduced in populations with reduced kidney function or aging-related decline in renal function because it is cleared by the kidneys and can impair renal perfusion further. In elderly patients, renal function often declines with age, so the risk of NSAID-related nephrotoxicity increases; reducing the dose helps limit drug accumulation and kidney stress. In chronic kidney disease, clearance is significantly impaired, so even standard doses can accumulate and raise the risk of acute kidney injury and other toxic effects; dosing should be decreased or, in many cases, avoided altogether with alternative analgesics considered. In contrast, healthy young adults typically have preserved renal function and can usually receive standard dosing, while children require weight-based dosing with careful monitoring, and pregnancy adds additional cautions about NSAID use.