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Dantrolene Side Effects
from eMedTV.comCommon Side Effects
For many medications, the prescribing information carefully explains the exact percentage of side effects that were reported in clinical trials. However, the prescribing information for almost all older medications, including dantrolene, includes only vague information on potential side effects, without any detailed statistics on how often they may occur. Therefore, it can be difficult to know exactly how common the side effects of these medications may be.Some of the more common dantrolene side effects include but are not limited to:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- General feelings of unease or illness
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea.
Other possible reactions, reported less frequently, include but are not limited to:
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal (stomach) cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- An acne-like rash
- Constipation
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Changes in taste or an abnormal taste in the mouth
- Insomnia
- Drooling
- Changes in urination
- Abnormal hair growth
- Sweating
- Muscle, joint, or back aches
- Excessive tearing (watering eyes).
Final Thoughts
You may experience some or none of the dantrolene side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have problems with a medicine that you have never tried.Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while using dantrolene. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you develop something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be related to the medication, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH, BCPP
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD