Shortage of dantrolene capsules

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of dantrolene capsules. This drug relaxes the muscles and is especially useful to people with spinal cord injuries, strokes, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. Muscle spasms, pain and stiffness are reduced. The drug is started at a low dose and increased until the muscle symptoms improve or adverse reactions to the drug outweigh its benefits. For example, sometimes dantrolene relaxes your muscles to the point where you can't swallow correctly. The drug can occasionally cause serious and even fatal liver problems, but blood tests for liver enzymes are used to give warning of this problem, which usually occurs at doses over 400-800 mg/day.