DANTRIUM (DANTROLENE)

Dantrium Information

Dantrium is a popular medicine also known under the name of Dantrolene. This drug belongs to a wide class of drugs: muscle relaxants. This medicine affects the patients’ muscles’ ability to stiffen (contract), making it extremely effective in the treatment of muscle spasticity (spasms and stiffness) that is normally caused by several medical conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy. However, this medicine is also widely prescribed in order to prevent the unwanted development of stiff muscles (that can be caused by anesthesia after or during a surgery) and malignant hyperthermia (that involves an extremely rapid rise in the patient’s body temperature). This drug can also be used in the treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, exercise-induced muscle pain, and heat stroke, although the FDA hasn’t approved it for these uses.

Dantrium Indications

Dantrium can be prescribed in the treatment of several diseases such as muscle spasticity, stiff muscles, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, exercise-induced muscle pain, and also heat stroke. However, this drug can also be used to treat (or to prevent) other medical conditions that have not been mentioned here.

Dantrium Warnings

You should not start a treatment with this medicine if you are suffering from liver disorders (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis).

Before you start taking this drug, you should inform your physician if you

have a lung or a breathing disease,
have heart disorder
have suffered from a liver disorder.

If you have any of these conditions you should take in a lower dose of this drug (or you may not be allowed to follow a treatment with Dantrium).

Dantrium (Dantrolene) is a category C FDA pregnancy drug. Therefore, it has not been established whether a treatment with this medicine could harm a growing fetus. You should not take this drug without your personal physician’s consent if you are pregnant or if you are planning to be so soon. It is not known if this medicine’s main ingredients can pass into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding a child, you should ask your doctor if it is safe to start taking this drug. This drug should not be given to infants younger than 5 years old.

During your treatment with Dantrium you should be careful while driving, operating complicated machinery, or performing any type of hazardous activities, because this drug is known to sometimes cause drowsiness or dizziness. During your treatment with this medicine you should avoid drinking too much alcohol (because alcoholic beverages can increase dizziness and drowsiness).

Dantrium Intake Guidelines

Ask your doctor how and when it is best that you take Dantrium. You must not disobey any of his or her instructions. If you fail to understand some of them, you should ask a pharmacist, a doctor or a nurse for further information. You must not stop your treatment with this drug without your doctor’s consent, even if you start to feel better after only a few days of treatment. You should store this drug away from the children’s reach and away from heat and moisture.

Dantrium Dosage

Ask your doctor to tell you the dose of Dantrium that suits you best. You must not change this dose in any way without your personal physician’s consent.

Dantrium Overdose

If you suspect that you might be suffering from an overdose with Dantrium, you should seek immediate medical care. Contact your local poison control centre as soon as possible. Inform your physician immediately. The average Dantrium overdose symptoms are known to include drowsiness, muscle weakness, unconsciousness, diarrhea and vomiting.

Dantrium Missed Dose

In order to make sure that you get the best results from your treatment with Dantrium, you should try to take this drug on a regular basis. However, if you happen to miss one of your prescribed doses of this medicine, you should take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for another dose of the drug, you must skip the dose that you have missed and continue with your regular treatment. You must not take in extra doses of this drug without your doctor’s consent.

Dantrium Side Effects

You should stop your treatment with Dantrium and seek medical care at once if you are experiencing any of these severe side effects:

allergic reactions (breathing difficulties; throat closing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue; and sometimes hives);
itching or rash;
black, tarry or bloody stools, sometimes severe diarrhea;
yellow eyes or skin;
seizures.

Some other less severe side effects are more common. You may continue your treatment with Dantrium, but you should alert your physician, if you experience any of the following side effects:

drowsiness, weakness, dizziness or fatigue;
blurred or abnormal vision;
diarrhea, upset stomach, constipation or decreased appetite;
headache or insomnia;
difficulty swallowing;
depression or confusion;
increased urination.

If you experience any of the symptoms listed here or any other unusual or bothersome effects during your treatment with Dantrium, you must alert your doctor immediately.

Dantrium Drug Reactions

Ask your physician if you may take any other drugs during your treatment with Dantrium (Dantrolene), even if they are simple cough or cold medicines, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, etc.