Dantrium Intravenous

Brand name:

Dantrium Intravenous, Revonto, and Ryanodex.

Dantrolene, a direct-acting skeletal muscle relaxant, used to manage fulminant hypermetabolism of skeletal muscles manifested by a condition called malignant hyperthermia. It can also be used to prevent and treat malignant hyperthermia in perioperative and postoperative patients.

Other characteristics of this condition include fast and irregular heartbeat, breathing problems, and very high fever. Susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia is believed to be inherited. You can only purchase this medication with a prescription. It is sold as a powder for solution or suspension.

Before deciding to use dantrolene, you and your physician need to discuss the risks and benefits associated with the treatment. There are also several factors you need to think about. You should not receive dantrolene if you have had hypersensitivity reactions to it in the past. You also need inform your doctor about any other allergies you have like to animals, food, preservatives, and other medications.

Studies have shown that dantrolene is safe and effective if used in pediatric patients. It is expected to have the same effects on elderly patients as well even though not enough research into it has been done. However, it should be noted that geriatric patients have age-related heart, kidney and liver problems that could hinder the action of dantrolene. It should, therefore, be used cautiously in elderly clients.

Animals studies have shown that IV dantrolene can have harmful effects on the fetus. However, there has been little research regarding its effects in pregnant women and the unborn child. IV drantrolene should be used with caution in pregnant women. Drantrolene has also been found in breast milk although at low concentrations. With that said, if you are currently breastfeeding, you need to consider stopping that or not receiving the medication with the risks and benefits in mind. IV drantrolene can also interact with other medications.

Concomitant use of the following medicines are not normally recommended but can be necessary:

• Alfentanil
• Amobarbital
• Butabarbital
• Butalbital
• Chlordiazepoxide
• Cinnarizine
• Clonazepam
• Diazepam
• Felodipine
• Halazepam
• Isradipine
• Levorphanol
• Medazepam
• Mephobarbital
• Midazolam
• Nitrazepam
• Oxazepam
• Prazepam
• Remifentanil
• Temazepam
• Triazolam
• Verapamil

Give your doctor a complete medication list so he can check if any of the medicines you’re currently taking can have an impact on IV dantrolene. Your physician might also instruct you to avoid certain foods or drinks.

Dantrolene should be administered by your doctor or a trained medical professional. It is given through an IV line. The administration of this drug is usually through continuous rapid intravenous push. Starting dose should be 1 mg/kg. IV dantrolene should be given continuously until the symptoms have resolved or the cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg has been reached.

Triggering factors of malignant hyperthermia, like anesthesia, should be stopped immediately once signs and symptoms start to manifest. The dose needed to reverse the malignant hyperthermia crisis depends on the duration of exposure to triggering agent, the interval between onset and initiation of treatment, and innate susceptibility to developing the condition.

As mentioned earlier, you will receive a continuous IV push until your symptoms subside. After which, your treating physician will put you on an oral version of dantrolene or something similar. You should talk to your doctor for further information.

This medication can cause drowsiness, lightheadedness and muscles weakness even up to 48 hours. That being said, you should not drive, operate machinery or engage in activities that need concentration and coordination within that time. Within the day of receiving IV dantrolene, you should take precaution when eating because you may have difficulty swallowing or choking.

Intravenous dantrolene can also have several side effects although you may only experience some of them. If you have the following symptoms, you should call your doctor or nurse right away:

• Blue lips and fingernails
• Coughing with pink frothy sputum
• Chest pain
• Difficult breathing, wheezing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fast heartbeat, dizziness
• Hives, Itching, Pale skin
• Increased sweating, swelling of the face and tongue
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in legs and ankles, chest tightness
• Tissue necrosis
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects that do not necessarily need medical treatment include reddened and unusually warm skin, as well as prolonged drowsiness and muscle weakness. If you experience other side effects or your symptoms get worse, you should check with your physician right away.