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Although opioids frequently are used to relieve pain in the emergency department, previous data suggest that intravenous ketorolac (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) may have similar efficacy with fewer adverse effects in some clinical settings. In this double-blind, randomized trial, Hong Kong investigators compared IV ketorolac (maximum dose, 30 mg) with IV morphine (maximum dose, 15 mg) in 148 adults who presented to an ED with isolated painful limb injuries.
Using several measures, investigators found that the 2 groups experienced approximately equal pain relief, although the ketorolac group had a significantly greater chance of achieving 75 percent reduction in pain during movement. Adverse events -- especially drowsiness, dizzines…