Dantrium Intravenous
Get instant savings up to 75% on Dantrium Intravenous
Download the Free PrescriptionDrugs.com Discount Drug Card
Print Card
Redeem for instant savings up to 75% on name brand
& generic prescription drugs
Accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide
Generic Name: dantrolene (oral)
(DAN troe leen)
What is Dantrium Intravenous?
Dantrium Intravenous is a muscle relaxant.
Dantrium Intravenous is used to treat muscle spasticity (stiffness and spasms) caused by conditions such as a spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis.
Dantrium Intravenous 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.
Dantrium Intravenous may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Dantrium Intravenous?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to Dantrium Intravenous, or if you have liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
You may be more likely to develop liver problems while taking Dantrium Intravenous if you are a woman, or if you are older than 35. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.
Do not use Dantrium Intravenous 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 Dantrium Intravenous, 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.
Dantrium Intravenous 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.
Dantrium Intravenous 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 Dantrium Intravenous.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Dantrium Intravenous?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to Dantrium Intravenous, or if you have liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
You may be more likely to develop liver problems while taking Dantrium Intravenous 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 Dantrium Intravenous is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Dantrium Intravenous 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.
Dantrium Intravenous should not be given to a child younger than 5 years old.
How should I take Dantrium Intravenous?
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 Dantrium Intravenous within 4 hours before surgery, use only enough water needed to swallow the pill.
Dantrium Intravenous 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 Dantrium Intravenous at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
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 nottake extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme drowsiness or muscle weakness.
What should I avoid while taking Dantrium Intravenous?
Do not use Dantrium Intravenous 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.
Dantrium Intravenous 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 Dantrium Intravenous.
Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds. Dantrium Intravenous 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 are the possible side effects of Dantrium Intravenous?
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 other drugs will affect Dantrium Intravenous?
Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by Dantrium Intravenous. 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 Dantrium Intravenous. 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.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about Dantrium Intravenous.
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.
Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 07/20/2009.
