Dantrolene: What It Is Used For, Mechanism Of Action, Side Effects

belonging to the category of direct-acting muscle relaxants which is used in the treatment of malignant hyperthermia.

Editorial board Dantrolene - Chemical Structure

For this purpose, dantrolene is administered by intravenous infusion; in fact, it is found in a medicine formulated as a powder for solution for infusion in the form of dantrolene sodium. To date (August 2021), in our country dantrolene is available in a "unique medicinal product with the trade name Dantrium®. whose use is reserved for hospitals or specialized health facilities.

skeletal (increased skeletal muscle demand for oxygen) that occurs in seizures of malignant hyperthermia, a severe reaction caused by anesthetic drugs used during surgery and by neuroleptics.

;

Control of diuresis;

Correction of electrolyte imbalance;

Patient cooling if needed.

When dantrolene is used, its administration should be done with caution to avoid extravasation and the drug penetrating the tissues; this is due to the high pH of the pharmaceutical formulation containing dantrolene.

Also, it is important to know that the dantrolene medicine contains mannitol. The physician will therefore have to take this into account if he is already administering mannitol to the patient to prevent or treat malignant hyperthermia-related offender problems.

, such as verapamil and diltiazem;

Medicines for the treatment of hypertension.

Also, before receiving dantrolene, the doctor should be told if the patient is taking any of the following medications:

• Clofibrate;
• Warfarin;
• Tolbutamide.

In any case, before using dantrolene, the physician should be informed if the patient is taking, has recently taken or may be taking any medications or products of any kind, including non-prescription drugs (SOP), prescription drugs Banco (OTC), herbal and phytotherapeutic products, homeopathic products, etc.

, manifesting undesirable effects different in type and intensity, or not manifesting them at all.

Specifically, the following undesirable effects have been reported with the use of dantrolene, but their frequency is not known:

• Pulmonary edema;
• Thrombophlebitis;
• Urticaria, erythema;
• Dizziness;
• Drowsiness;
• Convulsions;
• Speech disorder;
• Heart failure;
• Bradycardia or tachycardia;
• Pleural effusion;
• Respiratory failure, respiratory depression;
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding;
• Jaundice, hepatitis;
• Hyperhidrosis;
• Crystalluria.