dantrium
Dantrium (Dantrolene Sodium) is a skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat Cerebral Infarction, Cerebral Palsy, Malignant Hyperthermia, Multiple Sclerosis.
Dantrolene Sodium · by Ph Health
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Dantrolene Sodium
- Drug class
- Skeletal Muscle Relaxant
- Form
- Capsule, Injectable
- Strength
- Dantrolene Sodium 20MG/VIAL
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- Manufacturer
- Ph Health
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$13.63 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA018264
What is Dantrium?
From the FDA label:Dantrium Intravenous is a sterile, non-pyrogenic, lyophilized formulation of dantrolene sodium for injection. Dantrium Intravenous is supplied in 70 mL vials containing 20 mg dantrolene sodium, 3000 mg mannitol, and sufficient sodium hydroxide to yield a pH of approximately 9.5 when reconstituted with 60 mL sterile water for injection USP (without a bacteriostatic agent). Dantrium is classified as a direct-acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Chemically, Dantrium is hydrated 1-[[[5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-furanyl]methylene]amino]-2,4-imidazolidinedione sodium salt. The structural formula for the hydrated salt is: The hydrated salt contains approximately 15% water (3-1/2 moles) and has a molecular weight of 399. The anhydrous salt (dantrolene) has a molecular weight of 336. Chemical structure
How to use
Dantrium is sold in more than one form (Capsule and Injectable), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application NDA018264 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.
As soon as the malignant hyperthermia reaction is recognized, all anesthetic agents should be discontinued; the administration of 100% oxygen is recommended. Dantrium Intravenous should be administered by continuous rapid intravenous push beginning at a minimum dose of 1 mg/kg, and continuing until symptoms subside or the maximum cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg has been reached. If the physiologic and metabolic abnormalities reappear, the regimen may be repeated. It is important to note that administration of Dantrium Intravenous should be continuous until symptoms subside. The effective dose to reverse the crisis is directly dependent upon the individual's degree of susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia, the amount and time of exposure to the triggering agent, and the time elapsed between onset of the crisis and initiation of treatment. Pediatric Dose: Experience to date indicates that the dose of Dantrium Intravenous for pediatric patients is the same as for adults. Preoperatively: Dantrium Intravenous and/or Dantrium Capsules may be administered preoperatively to patients judged malignant hyperthermia susceptible as part of the overall patient management to prevent or attenuate the development of clinical and laboratory signs of malignant hyperthermia. Dantrium Intravenous: The recommended prophylactic dose of Dantrium Intravenous is 2.5 mg/kg, starting approximately 1-1/4…
Side effects
There have been occasional reports of death following malignant hyperthermia crisis even when treated with intravenous dantrolene; incidence figures are not available (the pre-dantrolene mortality of malignant hyperthermia crisis was approximately 50%). Most of these deaths can be accounted for by late recognition, delayed treatment, inadequate dosage, lack of supportive therapy, intercurrent disease and/or the development of delayed complications such as renal failure or disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. In some cases there are insufficient data to completely rule out therapeutic failure of dantrolene. There are reports of fatality in malignant hyperthermia crisis, despite initial satisfactory response to intravenous dantrolene, which involve patients who could not be weaned from dantrolene after initial treatment. The administration of Dantrium Intravenous to human volunteers is associated with loss of grip strength and weakness in the legs, as well as drowsiness and dizziness. The following adverse reactions are in approximate order of severity: There are rare reports of pulmonary edema developing during the treatment of malignant hyperthermia crisis in which the diluent volume and mannitol needed to deliver intravenous dantrolene possibly contributed. There have been reported cases of hepatotoxicity following the use of intravenous dantrolene products. Elevated…
Warnings
Important safety information
The use of Dantrium Intravenous in the management of malignant hyperthermia crisis is not a substitute for previously known supportive measures. These measures must be individualized, but it will usually be necessary to discontinue the suspect triggering agents, attend to increased oxygen requirements, manage the metabolic acidosis, institute cooling when necessary, monitor urinary output, and monitor for electrolyte imbalance. Since the effect of disease state and other drugs on Dantrium -related skeletal muscle weakness, including possible respiratory depression, cannot be predicted, patients who receive Dantrium Intravenous preoperatively should have vital signs monitored. If patients judged malignant hyperthermia susceptible are administered intravenous or oral Dantrium preoperatively, anesthetic preparation must still follow a standard malignant hyperthermia susceptible regimen, including the avoidance of known triggering agents. Monitoring for early clinical and metabolic signs of malignant hyperthermia is indicated because attenuation of malignant hyperthermia, rather than prevention, is possible. These signs usually call for the administration of additional intravenous dantrolene.
Who should not take Dantrium
None.
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Because Dantrium Intravenous must be administered at a low concentration in a large volume of fluid, acute toxicity of Dantrium Intravenous could not be assessed in animals. In 14-day (subacute) studies, the intravenous formulation of Dantrium was relatively non-toxic to rats at doses of 10 mg/kg/day and 20 mg/kg/day. While 10 mg/kg/day in dogs for 14 days evoked little toxicity, 20 mg/kg/day for 14 days caused hepatic changes of questionable biologic significance. Symptoms which may occur in case of overdose include, but are not limited to, muscular weakness and alterations in the state of consciousness (e.g., lethargy, coma), vomiting, diarrhea, and crystalluria. For acute overdosage, general supportive measures should be employed. Intravenous fluids should be administered in fairly large quantities to avert the possibility of crystalluria. An adequate airway should be maintained and artificial resuscitation equipment should be at hand. Electrocardiographic monitoring should be instituted, and the patient carefully observed. The value of dialysis in Dantrium overdose is not known.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
Dantrium is metabolized by the liver, and it is theoretically possible that its metabolism may be enhanced by drugs known to induce hepatic microsomal enzymes. However, neither phenobarbital nor diazepam appears to affect Dantrium metabolism. Binding to plasma protein is not significantly altered by diazepam, diphenylhydantoin, or phenylbutazone. Binding to plasma proteins is reduced by warfarin and clofibrate and increased by tolbutamide. Cardiovascular collapse in association with marked hyperkalemia has been reported in patients receiving dantrolene in combination with calcium channel blockers. It is recommended that the combination of intravenous dantrolene sodium and calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, not be used together during the management of malignant hyperthermia crisis. Administration of dantrolene may potentiate vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block.
Drug class
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
Dosage forms
Capsule and Injectable
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Dantrium treat?
- Dantrium (Dantrolene Sodium) may be used to treat cerebral infarction, cerebral palsy, malignant hyperthermia, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasticity, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How much does Dantrium cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $13.63 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Diazepam — about $0.87 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Dantrium?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Dantrium. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Dantrium?
- Dantrium is marketed by Ph Health. You can see Ph Health's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Dantrium a brand-name or generic drug?
- Dantrium is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Dantrolene Sodium.
- Is Dantrium available over the counter?
- No. Dantrium is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Dantrium come in?
- Dantrium is currently marketed as capsule and injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Dantrium?
- Dantrium is classified as skeletal muscle relaxant, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Dantrium FDA-registered?
- Dantrium is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA018264. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Dantrium safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Dantrium. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Dantrium?
- Dantrium's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: There have been occasional reports of death following malignant hyperthermia crisis even when treated with intravenous dantrolene; incidence figures are not available (the pre-dantrolene mortality of malignant hyperthermia crisis was approximately 50%).… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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