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Dantrolene reduces the threshold and gain for shivering
Chun-Ming Lin1, Sharma Neeru, Anthony G Doufas
1Outcomes Research Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA.
Anesthesia and Analgesia
|April 24, 2004
Summary
Dantrolene significantly lowers shivering intensity but has minimal impact on central temperature regulation. This suggests it may not be superior to existing muscle relaxants for treating severe hyperthermia.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dantrolene is used to treat hyperthermia, but its effects on thermoregulation are not fully understood.
- Shivering is a key physiological response to cold exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dantrolene on the threshold and gain of shivering in healthy volunteers.
- To determine if dantrolene alters central thermoregulatory responses.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted on healthy male volunteers.
- Study 1 assessed shivering threshold during controlled warming and cooling.
- Study 2 measured shivering gain during induced hypothermia using intravenous cold fluid infusion.
Main Results:
- Dantrolene decreased the shivering threshold by 0.3°C.
- Dantrolene significantly reduced the gain of shivering (systemic response to cooling) by approximately 40%.
- Sweating and vasoconstriction thresholds were unaffected by dantrolene.
Conclusions:
- Dantrolene substantially reduces shivering intensity (gain) but has minimal effect on central thermoregulation.
- The findings suggest dantrolene's efficacy in treating life-threatening hyperthermia may be limited compared to other muscle relaxants.