VETERINARY TEAM REFERENCE

DEA & state schedules

Scheduling applies to the medication, not to the patient. This independent reference is not affiliated with the DEA.

Ketorolac

FEDERAL STATUS

Not federally scheduled

The identified ingredients in this entry are not listed in the reviewed federal schedules. Prescription-only status, product restrictions and state law are separate questions.

Federal source ↗

State / prescribing or dispensing jurisdiction

STATE STATUS

Select a jurisdiction

Choose the state relevant to prescribing or dispensing. Patient residence alone may not determine every applicable rule.

What each federal schedule means

Highlighted rows match the verified federal or selected state schedule. The schedule describes legal control and abuse potential; it does not rank clinical usefulness or establish a dose.

Federal Schedules I–V: meaning and practice implications
Schedule	Meaning and practice
I	High abuse potential; no currently accepted medical use in U.S. treatment; lacks accepted safety under medical supervision. In practice: Not available for routine veterinary prescribing. Authorized research is a separate pathway.
II	High abuse potential; accepted medical use, sometimes with severe restrictions; abuse can cause severe dependence. In practice: No prescription refills under federal law. Strict prescribing, security and record requirements apply.
III	Less abuse potential than I or II; accepted medical use; abuse can cause moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. In practice: Federal prescriptions allow up to five authorized refills within six months. State rules may be stricter.
IV	Lower abuse potential than III; accepted medical use; limited dependence risk relative to III. In practice: The same federal five-refill / six-month prescription limit applies. Controlled-drug handling still applies.
V	Lower abuse potential than IV; accepted medical use; limited dependence risk relative to IV. In practice: Still controlled. Check authorized refills and state limits; do not automatically apply the III–IV refill rule.

What this means for the chart

For a controlled medication, confirm the prescriber’s authority for the applicable schedule, the exact formulation and quantity, authorized refills, secure handling, and required inventory / dispensing records. Check the state’s veterinary rules and any prescription monitoring program (PDMP) requirements or exemptions.

A PDMP reporting requirement does not by itself make a drug scheduled. “Not federally scheduled” does not mean over the counter, risk-free, or exempt from state law. States may use additional categories, such as Schedule VI, outside the federal I–V system.

← Medication & Supplement Reference

VETERINARY TEAM REFERENCE · MEDICATION

Ketorolac

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This entry covers the ophthalmic Acular formulation; systemic oral and injectable products require separate product-specific prescribing assessment.

Ophthalmic NSAIDProduct-specific clinical reference

Updated October 16, 2026 · Sources and review status below

For veterinarians and veterinary staff. Product-label information is distinct from extra-label clinical practice. This is not a complete prescribing formulary or an automated interaction screen. Verify the current label, exact formulation, patient and species-specific clinical reference before use. Independent veterinary/pharmacy review remains pending.

Prescribing overview

Acular 0.5% is an anti-inflammatory eye solution, not an antibiotic.

Key prescribing checks

The label warns about delayed healing and corneal adverse events, including ulceration and perforation. Evaluate the ocular surface before use.
Screen for NSAID hypersensitivity and bleeding concerns; reassess persistent stinging, pain or worsening ocular signs.
Concurrent topical corticosteroids require particular attention to healing risk.

Uses by species

Approval and evidence apply to the named product, species, route and indication. An extra-label use requires its own prescribing assessment; a human indication is not an animal approval.

Veterinary patients

Not established by reviewed human label

Ocular inflammation: veterinary selection is extra-label.

Animal use requires a veterinarian's separate diagnosis and prescription.

Use / indication source ↗

Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics

Mechanism and clinical role

Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination

Reviewed label reports human exposure; veterinary ocular/systemic kinetics are not established here.

SAFETY REFERENCE · PRODUCT & SPECIES SPECIFIC

Contraindications & cautions

Contraindications identify circumstances where the source says a product should not be used. Precautions call for assessment or monitoring. Interactions identify combinations to review. They are distinct categories; this summary does not replace a full interaction check or the current product label.

Acular

Human ophthalmic solution only

Contraindications · when not to use

Previous hypersensitivity to any formulation ingredient.

Precautions & monitoring

NSAID sensitivity, asthma, bleeding tendency and damaged ocular surfaces require caution; corneal injury and delayed healing can occur.

Human label; this does not establish veterinary approval or an animal treatment protocol.

Safety sources checked: October 16, 2026. Selected label information; independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review remains pending. A label for dogs, cats, horses or humans does not establish safety for another species.

Adverse effects

Human labeling describes burning, stinging, delayed healing and potentially serious corneal injury.

These are selected source-reported effects, not incidence estimates or an exhaustive list. Spontaneous postmarketing reports do not by themselves establish frequency or causality.

Dosing & administration

Verify the source before prescribing. The regimens below summarize selected veterinary product labels, not every accepted veterinary use. They are not automatic substitutions between brands or formulations. Renal/hepatic disease, concurrent therapy, age, indication and clinical response can require a different plan.

A verified veterinary dose has not been entered for this product. Human-label dosing must not be used as an animal regimen. Consult a current species-specific clinical source and the prescribing veterinarian.

A veterinary dose was not verified from an approved animal label; human dosing is not an animal regimen.

Extra-label prescribing and food-animal residue requirements are separate from labeled regimens. FDA extra-label-use guidance ↗

Drug & supplement interactions

This is a selected interaction reference, not an automated or comprehensive combination checker. Reconcile prescription drugs, nonprescription products, supplements and recent treatment changes.

Acular

Human ophthalmic solution only

Topical corticosteroids can compound healing problems; medicines that prolong bleeding require caution.

Interaction source ↗

Monitoring

Assess corneal integrity, pain and healing; review steroid/NSAID exposure.

Client counseling

Report worsening pain or redness promptly. Keep the dropper tip from touching the eye or other surfaces.

This section supports the veterinary team's discharge discussion; it does not replace the product’s Client Information Sheet where one is required.

Storage & handling

Use the actual bottle's storage directions and protect sterility.

Brands, formulations & ingredient identity

Active ingredients

Ketorolac tromethamine

Other searchable names: ketorolac trometamol

Acular is ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution.

Ketorolac is an NSAID, not a corticosteroid or antibiotic.

Similar brand variants and other routes may differ in concentration, vehicle or instructions; inspect the actual prescription and container.

Shared ingredients do not establish interchangeable concentrations, routes, release properties, species labeling or regional availability.

Acular

Formulation: Sterile ophthalmic solution
Label / product scope: Human product

Ophthalmic formulation only; does not identify systemic ketorolac products.

Product label / source ↗

References & review status

Clinical reference updated October 16, 2026. Independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review not yet completed. Evidence gaps remain explicitly identified; this page does not claim equivalence to a comprehensive, professionally reviewed veterinary formulary.

01DailyMed: ketorolac product labeling ↗

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Prescribing overview

Key prescribing checks

Uses by species

Veterinary patients

Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics

Mechanism and clinical role

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination

Contraindications & cautions

Contraindications · when not to use

Precautions & monitoring

Adverse effects

Dosing & administration

Drug & supplement interactions

Acular

Monitoring

Client counseling

Storage & handling

Brands, formulations & ingredient identity

Active ingredients

Acular

References & review status

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