Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking dantrium as follows:
- Dantrium can also induce hepatic dysfunction and liver toxicity, leading to fatal liver failure. Individuals can present with symptoms of liver failure, such as, jaundice with yellowing of skin and eyes, itching of skin, upper right abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, confusion and disorientation, fluid retention in the body with swelling, and compromised appetite. Dantrium could best be avoided for a safer alternative or used with extra caution with close watch for signs and symptoms of liver failure in individuals with history of compromised liver function.
- It is not clear if dantrium could cross the placenta in pregnant women. It is also unclear if dantrium could pass through the breast milk into a nursing baby, thereby harming the baby. Women in the child-bearing age group taking dantrium must seek her physician consult, if she plans on getting pregnant. Mothers breastfeeding their infants and taking dantrium regularly must double check with their physician regarding safety of the infant with dantrium.
- Dantrium only helps with relieving muscle spasms, by reducing the availability of calcium ions much needed for muscle contraction. Dantrium only temporarily relieves the spasms but does not fix the actual condition causing the muscle spasms and so, could not a permanent cure. Continue taking dantrium as ordered, even if you experience relief from muscle pain and spasms, until your physician orders for the discontinuation on the medication. Notify your doctor of any unresolving muscle spasms, progressively worsening muscle pain and discomfort, compromised range of motion in the involved muscle groups, and any continuing or worsening unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised.
