Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...
- Ketorolac Injection/Oral Ibuprofen Drug Stewardship Initiative - Connect Care Changes
A drug stewardship initiative aimed at reducing the unnecessary prescribing of ketorolac injection for pain management in adult patients who can tolerate oral medication was implemented July 29, 2025. This initiative also promotes the use of lower ketorolac injection and oral ibuprofen doses. Although this initiative primarily targets EDs and urgent care centres, there are a few associated changes in Connect Care that will impact other programs as well, as listed below:
Key points of initiative:
- Ketorolac injection is associated with higher risks and costs than oral ibuprofen, without providing better pain relief.
- Oral ibuprofen 400 mg instead of ketorolac injection should be used in adult patients who can tolerate oral medication.
- If ketorolac injection is required, a 10 mg to 15 mg dose is recommended as higher doses do not improve pain relief but can cause more adverse effects.
- Changes to medication (ERX) records, when searching from browse/quicklist:
- Ketorolac injection: The default dose has changed from 30 mg to 10 mg. The 30 mg dose button has been removed and an 10 mg dose button added.
- Ibuprofen oral: The 600 mg dose button has been removed. The default dose will continue to be 200 mg.
- Changes to order sets that currently have a default dose for ketorolac injection or oral ibuprofen:
- ED order set authors have been notified of the above ketorolac injection and oral ibuprofen ERX record changes, and requests have been made for them to update their order sets as appropriate.
- Surgery order set authors will be notified of the above ketorolac injection and oral ibuprofen ERX record changes and will be asked to update their order sets as appropriate.
For more information, see the below resources from AHS Pharmacy Services: