PATIENT
INFORMATION LEAFLET
DANTRIUM®
Intravenous
(Dantrolene)
What
is this leaflet about?
This
leaflet is a summary of information about Dantrium
Intravenous.
Read it
carefully and keep it in case you need to refer to
it again.
If you
have any questions about your medicine or your
illness, ask your pharmacist (chemist) or doctor.
What is
in Dantrium Intravenous?
Dantrium
Intravenous is an intravenous injection supplied to
hospitals in packs of 12 vials. Each vial contains 20mg
of the active ingredient dantrolene sodium. It also
contains mannitol and sodium hydroxide.
What is
Dantrium Intravenous used for?
Dantrium is
a muscle relaxant which directly affects muscle, rather
than the nerves controlling muscle. When given by
intravenous injection, it is useful in controlling
malignant hyperthermia. Malignant hyperthermia is a
serious condition where the body temperature rises
extremely quickly and is a rare reaction to anaesthesia.
It can produce a variety of symptoms such as a fast
heart beat and breathing rate, stiff muscles, changes in
the acidity of the body and the rhythm of the heart as
well as high blood pressure. This reaction needs
emergency treatment including oxygen, cooling the body,
controlling the acidity of the body, stopping the
anaesthetic and giving Dantrium Intravenous.
Is
Dantrium Intravenous right for you?
You will
probably have been given Dantrium Intravenous before
you see this leaflet. The urgent need for treatment
will have been more important than anything else at
the time. Your doctor will have considered the
following questions before giving you Dantrium.
-
Have you had a serious reaction to Dantrium in
the past?
-
Are you taking any blood pressure or angina
medicines called "calcium channel blockers"?
-
Are you pregnant?
How to
take Dantrium Intravenous?
The dry
contents of the Dantrium Intravenous vial must be
dissolved in water before it is injected. The dose of
Dantrium Intravenous is based on body weight. An initial
dose of 1mg for every kilogram of body weight is
injected straight into a vein without mixing it with
other infusion fluids. This dose may be repeated as
necessary so that a total dose of up to 10mg may be
given for each kilogram of body weight. It is important
to inject Dantrium Intravenous into a vein and not into
surrounding tissue as this may cause irritation.
Does
Dantrium Intravenous have side effects?
Malignant
hyperthermia is a potentially fatal disease. There have
been rare reports of patients developing allergic
reactions or rashes after having received Dantrium
Intravenous. The vein into which the Dantrium
Intravenous was injected may rarely become inflamed,
sometimes with formation of a blood clot.
Serious
liver disorders have been reported.
Rarely in
the course of treatment with Dantrium Intravenous an
excess of fluid may develop on the lungs. If this
occured it would have been treated promptly. Please note
that for a period of up to 48 hours following your
operation there will probably be some weakness of your
hand and leg muscles and you should take particular care
walking down stairs. You may also have a feeling of "lightheadedness".
Because of these temporary effects you should not drive
or operate machinery during this time. If you experience
any other unusual effects, tell your doctor or
pharmacist.
Storing
Dantrium Intravenous
Before this
product is opened, it should not be stored above 30°C.
Once water has been added to the vial, it should not be
stored above 30°C and should not be refrigerated or
frozen. It should be protected from direct light. The
reconstituted solution should be used within six hours.
Keep all
medicines safely away from children.
Do not use
after the expiry "exp" date shown on the pack.
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