Outline the pharmacology of dantrolene

Outline the pharmacology of dantrolene.

Dantrolene is an intracellular muscle relaxant. It works by reducing intracellular calcium concentrations. This may result from impaired release from the sarcoplasmic reticu-lum or inhibition of excitation–contraction coupling. As of this writing, dantrolene is the only mechanism-specific treatment for MH.

Dantrolene does not appear to possess cardiac toxicity but may alter other neuromuscular blocker requirements. After administration of dantrolene 2.5 mg/kg intra-venously, therapeutic levels last 4–6 hours. Its half-life is almost 12 hours. Consequently, dantrolene is administered every 4 hours for the treatment of MH. Muscle weakness, nausea, hepatotoxicity, and phlebitis are the recognized side-effects of dantrolene treatment.