abcnews.go.com/Blotter/risks-c...ory?id=18114915

A few excerpts:


Despite stated label risks of possible fatal heart attack, stroke or organ failure, college football players across the country are still being given injections of a powerful painkiller on game days so they can play while injured, an ABC News investigation has found.

The drug, a generic version of Toradol, is recommended for the short-term treatment of post-operative pain in hospitals but has increasingly been used in college and professional sports, and its use is not monitored by the NCAA, the governing body of college sports.
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Controversy surrounding the drug has grown this year following claims by former USC lineman Armond Armstead that he suffered a heart attack after the 2010 season, at age 20, following shots of generic Toradol administered over the course of the season by the team doctor and USC personnel.

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In a lawsuit against the school and the doctor, Dr. James Tibone, Armstead claims the school ignored the stated risks of the drug and never told him about them.

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USC declined to comment on Armstead's claims, or the use of Toradol to treat Trojan players.

An ABC News crew and reporter were ordered off the practice field when they tried to question USC coach Lane Kiffin about the use of the painkiller. USC says the ABC News crew was told to leave because they had not submitted the appropriate paperwork in advance to attend the practice session.

It is not a controlled substance in any state. It's pretty much liquid aspirin. Are there risks? Yes. Are they what's being described here? No.

It's also used heavily in the NFL (about 2/3rds of the player take it during games).

I thought USC was South Carolina?
*I'm joking on the little Carolina

"It is not a controlled substance in any state. It's pretty much liquid aspirin. Are there risks? Yes. Are they what's being described here? No."

The issue is not whether it is a controlled substance. It's the use without explanation of the risks and its overuse. Here's another quote from the article:



The manufacturers' warning label for generic Toradol (ketorolac tromethamine) says the drug is not intended for prolonged periods or for chronic pain and cites gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney failure as possible side effects of the drug.

In addition, like other drugs in its class, the generic Toradol label warns "may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke, which can be fatal."

"This risk may increase with duration of use," the so-called black box warning reads.




According to the article, Oklahoma used this drug in 2010 and 2011, but stopped using it this year. Nebraska says that it "restricts" its use (which means nothing). Notre Dame and Alabama refused to answer the question.


Here's another gem from the article:


Later at a news conference promoting the Sun Bowl, where USC was defeated earlier this week, Kiffin said he had no idea when or if Toradol was being used on his players, or about its risks.

"Well, if that was the case then, yeah, I did not know that until you told me," Kiffin said. "You educated me, thank you."

We're the fighting Gamecocks. Not the Fighting Rubbers like Southern Cal.

As long as we aren't injecting UNC players, I wish all the other teams the best.

Don't know anything about the health risks, but I can tell y'all from experience that Toradol is one helluva drug. I was in the ER with the worst gall bladder pain imaginable. Five seconds after they pushed Toradol, I was completely pain free. Just amazing. When I later found out it wasn't a narcotic, I couldn't believe it.

Your experience sounds like a great use for Toradol.

On the other hand, it sounds dangerous for an athlete. Pain is there or a reason. It lets you know to stop. If you can't get the negative reinforcement, it could lead to more injuries.

Ehhh. Maybe it isn't a big deal in regards to the health issue. It does show that a lot of programs have moved to the win at all cost mentality, even doping players up.

------------------------------Lumberhole wrote:

Don't know anything about the health risks, but I can tell y'all from experience that Toradol is one helluva drug. I was in the ER with the worst gall bladder pain imaginable. Five seconds after they pushed Toradol, I was completely pain free. Just amazing. When I later found out it wasn't a narcotic, I couldn't believe it.

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