Questions and Answers
What is the trade name for dantrolene sodium?
Dantrium
What is the therapeutic class for Dantrium?
Skeletal muscle relaxant
What is the pharmacologic class for Dantrium?
Direct acting antispasmodic; calcium release blocker
What is dantrolene used for?
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Dantrolene affects cardiac or smooth muscles.
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When is dantrolene especially useful?
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What is dantrolene occasionally treated for?
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What is the preferred treatment drug for malignant hyperthermia?
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What are the administration alerts for dantrolene?
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What are the adverse effects of dantrolene?
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What is the black box warning for dantrolene?
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When does the risk for liver injury increase with dantrolene?
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When should therapy with dantrolene be discontinued if no benefits are observed?
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What are the contraindications for dantrolene?
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What are the drug interactions with dantrolene?
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What are the lab tests associated with dantrolene?
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What are the herbal/food interactions with dantrolene?
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What is the treatment for overdose of dantrolene?
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What type of problem is dantrolene treating?
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What happens when calcium release is blocked?
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What can dantrolene cause?
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What labs should you monitor for hepatotoxicity?
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What does dantrolene treat?
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What is the trigger for malignant hyperthermia?
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What do you need to discuss with patients about dantrolene?
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Dantrolene does affect smooth or cardiac muscle.
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What is essential to muscle contraction?
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What is dantrolene especially useful for?
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Dantrolene is a true vesicant.
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Since there is a potential for hepatic toxicity, what should you monitor?
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Study Notes
Dantrolene Sodium Overview
- Trade name: Dantrium
- Therapeutic class: Skeletal muscle relaxant
- Pharmacologic class: Direct acting antispasmodic; calcium release blocker
Uses and Indications
- Primarily treats spasticity, especially in head and neck spasms.
- Effective for muscle spasms after spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy (CP), and multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Occasionally helps with muscle pain after heavy exercise.
Mechanism of Action
- Directly relaxes muscle spasms by blocking the release of calcium ions from storage in skeletal muscle cells.
- Does not affect cardiac or smooth muscles.
Administration and Alerts
- Oral suspension should be used within a few days due to lack of preservatives.
- IV solution has a high pH and causes tissue irritation.
- Classified as Pregnancy category C.
Adverse Effects and Warnings
- Common adverse effects include muscle weakness, drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia, erratic blood pressure, photosensitivity, and urinary retention.
- Black box warning for potential hepatotoxicity, indicated by abnormal liver enzyme levels.
- Risk for liver injury increases in females over 35 and with prolonged therapy (over 3 months).
Monitoring and Contraindications
- Therapy should be discontinued after 45 days if no benefits are seen.
- Contraindicated in patients with impaired cardiac or pulmonary function or hepatic disease.
- Monitor AST and ALT levels for liver function.
Drug Interactions
- Interacts with various drugs; avoid OTC cough preparations, antihistamines, alcohol, and other CNS depressants.
- Concurrent use with calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem) increases the risk of ventricular fibrillation and cardiovascular complications.
Miscellaneous Information
- Malignant hyperthermia treated with IV dantrolene (Revonto), caused by succinylcholine.
- Muscle contraction essential on calcium release; blocked calcium leads to muscle relaxation.
- Discuss with patients whether benefits outweigh potential adverse effects like significant muscle weakness.
- Not classified as a true vesicant, but IV administration should be monitored closely.
- Overdose management is primarily supportive; there's no specific antidote.
Patient Education
- Address the balance of treatment benefits against the risk of adverse effects.
- Encourage patients to report any signs of liver dysfunction or unusual muscle weakness.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Dantrolene Sodium, the drug prototype covered in NUR 326. This quiz focuses on its trade name, therapeutic and pharmacologic classes, as well as its uses. Ideal for nursing students looking to reinforce their understanding of this medication.
