Dantrolene Oral

Dantrolene, a muscle relaxant, is used to treat spasticity or muscle spasms associated with spinal cord injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or other conditions. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Dantrolene comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It usually is taken once a day at first and then increased gradually to two to four times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take dantrolene exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If you cannot swallow capsules, empty the contents into fruit juice and mix well just before taking the dose.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Dantrolene may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
muscle weakness</li>
<li>
drowsiness</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
diarrhea</li>
<li>
fatigue</li>
<li>
difficulty swallowing</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>In addition to the symptoms mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, if you experience the following symptom, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
seizures</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking dantrolene, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dantrolene or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially diazepam (Valium); estrogen; medications for seizures, allergies, colds, or coughs; sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, heart, rheumatic, or lung disease. you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how dantrolene affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug. you should plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Dantrolene may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.