Toradol IM Injection.

[nursesearl, BSN, RN]

I have always given Toradol in a large muscle because I was told many years ago that it needed to go there. I have recently tried to look this up and can not find any info. We had a patient in our Urgent Care that returned with a lump on his arm, where a Toradol injection was given. Any information on this, or is this just something that is understood?

What I'm asking: is it OK to inject Toradol in the deltoid? I was always told gluteal muscle.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't worry too much if it was red, swollen, and painful. That is why we monitor for 15 minutes s/p IM injection for reactions.

[Black Jade, BSN, RN]

I always gave it in the gluteal muscle and never had any problems, except for two occasions; when I aspirated blood, the needle wouldn't go in, and I needed to start all over again. A tough-looking patient insisted that I give Toradol to the deltoid muscle, and I warned him it would be excruciating and mentioned this to the doctor. The doctor spoke with the patient, but the patient wouldn't have it any other way. Everything was documented, and the patient was monitored. The patient complained about the pain (at least he was warned); other than that, he was fine. The next time he came for his routine Toradol, he agreed to be given in the gluteal muscle.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Strange, I know it can be given IM, but I rarely see it written up as such, primarily for IV administration. I can't see that the muscle size is so critical, except that the anti-inflammatories tend to be irritants. Toradol is only 1 ml, so the deltoid should be big enough.

I agree; I don't think a bit of swelling is too much to worry about unless there's an infection involved.

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

I always give it in the gluteal or quad, and I've seen many patients where the doc gave it in the deltoid. A more significant muscle is kinder, but any of the three sites should be fine.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

GHGoonette said:

Toradol is only 1ml, so the deltoid should be big enough.

Our Toradol is 30 mg/ml, and we typically give 60 mg when giving it IM so that it would be 2 ml for us. I always give it to the gluteal area.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

azhiker96 said:

I always give it in the gluteal or quad, and I've seen many patients where the doc gave it in the deltoid. A more significant muscle is kinder, but any of the three sites should be fine.

I agree--the more significant the muscle, the better. I also give Toradol in either the gluteus or the Vastus Lateralis.

[Skip219, BSN, RN]

I have given Toradol 60mg IM in Vastus Lateralis muscle to total knee patients and have given the same amount through the deltoid route. The dosage must be adjusted if over 65 yrs old because of decreased renal function and never heard of patients coming in with nodule-like areas from the injection. Not to worry unless hot, tender, and febrile.

[ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN]

Toradol HURTS. I have always given it IM in the glute, thank goodness,s because I had to have an injection of it back in December, and they showed it in my glute, and it stayed very tender with a knot for about 3-4 days!

[Skip219, BSN, RN]

Hi, my most recent administration of toradol was during anesthesia school with shoulders and total knees. I understand many of the drugs we give are painful: Penicillin VK, Toradol, and other antibiotics. I sense that I got your senses aroused, so relax.

[loriangel14, RN]

That's funny. I've had Toradol IM twice in the delt, and it only hurt for a minute. After that, it was fine.

[Larry77, RN]

Location doesn't matter as much as the size of the muscle. Some talk like your arm will fall off or something if you say you always give it in the LE, fine, but if I'm your patient and I ask you to provide it in my arm, do it, please ?

People get so hung up on location, but it's all relative--more considerable muscle is what matters.