Dantrolene is used to treat muscle spasticity (stiffness and spasms) caused by conditions such as
a spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis.
Dantrolene is also used to prevent muscle stiffness and spasms caused by malignant
hyperthermia (a rapid rise in body temperature) that can occur during surgery with certain types of
anesthesia.
Dantrolene may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What does dantrolene look like?
Dantrolene 50 mg-GLO
Dantrolene 25 mg-GLO
Dantrolene 100 mg-GLO
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dantrolene (oral)?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to dantrolene, or if you have liver
disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
You may be more likely to develop liver problems while taking dantrolene if you are a
woman, or if you are older than 35. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely use this medication:
a history of liver disease;
a breathing disorder such as COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease); or
heart disease, or a history of heart attack.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dantrolene is
harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant during treatment.
Dantrolene can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Dantrolene should not be given to a child younger than 5 years old.
How should I take dantrolene (oral)?
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or
for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water. If you take dantrolene within 4 hours before
surgery, use only enough water needed to swallow the pill.
Dantrolene can cause muscle weakness, which can affect your ability to swallow. Use
caution to prevent choking while you are eating meals. Talk with your doctor if you are unable to eat
because of this side effect.
Store dantrolene at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of dantrolene (oral)?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait
until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
take extra medicine
to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about dantrolene (oral)?
Your pharmacist has information about dantrolene (oral) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of dantrolene (oral)?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
severe diarrhea or constipation;
weak or shallow breathing;
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
trouble swallowing, especially if it causes choking;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
black, bloody, or tarry stools;
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
urinating less than usual or not at all.
Less serious side effects may include:
drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, tired feeling;
mild diarrhea or constipation;
mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
problems with speech, balance, or walking;
headache, confusion, vision problems;
sleep problems (insomnia);
sweating, drooling; or
urinating more than usual.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about dantrolene (oral)?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to dantrolene, or if you have liver
disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
You may be more likely to develop liver problems while taking dantrolene if you are a
woman, or if you are older than 35. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.
Do not use dantrolene at a time when muscle tone is needed to assure safe balance and
movement for certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your physical safety to be in a state
of reduced muscle tone.
Before taking dantrolene, tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, a breathing
disorder such as COPD, heart disease, or a history of heart attack.
Dantrolene can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Dantrolene can cause muscle weakness, which can affect your ability to swallow. Use
caution to prevent choking while you are eating meals. Talk with your doctor if you are unable to eat
because of this side effect.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of dantrolene.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication.
What should I avoid while taking dantrolene (oral)?
Do not use dantrolene at a time when muscle tone is needed to assure safe balance and
movement for certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your physical safety to be in a state
of reduced muscle tone.
Dantrolene can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of dantrolene.
Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds. Dantrolene can make your skin
more sensitive to sunlight, and a sunburn may result. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF
15 or higher) when you are outdoors.
What other drugs will affect dantrolene (oral)?
Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, and medicine for
seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by dantrolene. Tell your doctor if you
regularly use any of these medicines, or any other muscle relaxers.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
birth control pills and other hormones; or
a heart or blood pressure medication such as amlodipine
(Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene),
nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan,
Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
dantrolene. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication
without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of dantrolene (oral)?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not
a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009