Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Dantrium as follows:
- Dantrium use can rarely lead to bone marrow failure, resulting in low blood cell count. Poor red cell count can lead to development of symptoms of anemia, such as, fatigue, weakness, confusion, dizziness, pale skin, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath. Low white blood cell counts from marrow failure can increase individual’s risk for infections. Low platelet counts due to marrow failure can result in increased risk for hemorrhage and bleeding episodes. Dantrium could be avoided in individuals with history of bone marrow failure or used with extra caution with close watch for signs and symptoms of worsening anemia, increased frequency of infections, hemorrhages, and bleeding episodes.
- Chronic use of dantrium can induce inflammation of the pleura, a membrane surrounding the lungs, resulting in swelling of the pleura and episodes of chest pain. Secondary to inflammation of the membranes, fluid gets built up around the lungs. Progressively worsening fluid accumulation around the lungs can exert pressure on the lungs from all sides and thus limit lung expansion, contributing to poor exchange of gases. Compromised lung expansion in due course of time can result in decreased lung capacity, shortness of breath, and fatigue. So, dantrium use could be avoided for a safer alternative in individuals with history of compromised lung capacity and poor lung expansion or used with extra caution with close watch for signs and symptoms of worsening lung function and increasing breathing difficulty.
- Chronic use of dantrium can induce inflammation of the pericardium, a membrane surrounding the heart, resulting in swelling of the pericardium, palpitations of heart, and episodes of chest pain. Secondary to inflammation of the pericardium, fluid gets built up around the heart. In severe cases of pericarditis, the fluid accumulation around the heart can exert pressure on the heart from all sides and prevent the heart from filling with blood to capacity when the heart relaxes. Low filling volume inside the heart during relaxation results in less volume of blood pumped out of the heart when the heart contracts. This contributes to less blood supply to vital organs, such as, brain, liver, and lungs, eventually compromising their function. So, dantrium use could be avoided for a safer alternative in individuals with history of compromised cardiac function or used with extra caution with close watch for signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure, such as, progressively falling blood pressure numbers, worsening confusion & dizziness, deteriorating shortness of breath, and increasing fatigue & weakness.
- Do not take dantrium, if you ever manifested any allergic responses to intake of dantrium or any other medications belonging to the group of skeletal muscle relaxants, such as, methocarbamol and baclofen. In the event of an allergic response with any of these medications, check with your physician regarding your safety with intake of dantrium.
