Ketorolac onset of analgesia occurs approximately

• A. 5 mins
• B. 2 hours
• C. 30 mins
• D. 6 hours

Answer: (C)

Ketorolac is a fast-acting NSAID used for short-term postoperative pain relief, and its onset depends on how it is given. When given intravenously, analgesia typically begins within about 10–20 minutes; with intramuscular administration, onset is usually closer to 30–60 minutes. The option of about 30 minutes fits the expected time frame for when patients notice relief in common clinical use, whereas 5 minutes is generally too soon for this drug, and 2 hours or 6 hours would be far later than the usual onset after a single dose. Thus, 30 minutes is the best approximate onset.