Dantrolene sodium in chronic spasticity of varying etiology. A double-blind study

Seventeen patients, 13 males and 4 females, with moderate to severe spasticity caused by varying neurological disorders attended a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the efficacy and safety of dantrolene sodium. Three patients discontinued, two because of side effects and one because of a laboratory abnormality. In the fourteen subjects who completed the trial there was a statistically significant decrease in resistance to passive stretch, clonus and hyperreflexia without significant reduction of muscle strength. A positive clinical effect was observed in ten patients while a very slight or no effect was seen in four cases. All patients reported adverse reactions during the dantrolene period, six patients during the placebo treatment. Six patients wanted to go on with dantrolene after the trial. On many occasions the urine of the patients turned bright yellow with high doses of dantrolene. It is concluded that dantrolene sodium is an effective antispastic drug in about one-third of patients who suffer from spasticity of varying etiology.