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| Pronunciation |
|
 (DAN
troe
leen) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Dantrium® |
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|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Skeletal Muscle Relaxant |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- This medicine can cause liver problems especially when high doses
are used. The risk is greatest in females, patients older than 35 years of age,
and patients taking other medicines. Your healthcare provider will be watching
your liver tests (blood tests). Using the smallest dose possible decreases the
risk of liver problems. Ask your healthcare provider about your dose. If you do
not see an improvement in your symptoms in 45 days of use, ask healthcare
provider if you can stop the
medicine.
|
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to dantrolene or any other part of the
medicine.
- If spasticity helps you keep your
balance.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used for the treatment of pain caused by
muscular-skeletal injury. It is used in combination with rest, physical therapy,
pain medicine, and other therapies.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- How dantrolene works is not known, but it relaxes parts of the nervous
system.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. Can cause
severe drowsiness or dizziness.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Feeling sleepy or unable to think clearly. Avoid driving, doing other
tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine
affects you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may
help.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Pain relief. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Over sedation or feeling sleepy.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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