What does dantrolene do for malignant hyperthermia?
Also question is, how does dantrolene treat malignant hyperthermia?
Dantrolene is the only currently accepted specific treatment for MH. In an episode of MH, muscle metabolism is dramatically increased secondary to an increase in calcium within the muscle. This causes muscles to contract, ATP hydrolysis, and heat production.
In this regard, why are calcium channel blockers contraindicated in malignant hyperthermia?
Due to its ability to reduce intracellular calcium levels, dantrolene is a specific and effective agent in the treatment of malignant hyperthermia. Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, has the ability to decrease calcium influx and can interact with dantrolene to produce hyperkalemia and myocardial depression.
Dantrolene produces relaxation of skeletal muscle without causing complete paralysis, and is the only xenobiotic proven to be effective for both treatment and prophylaxis of malignant hyperthermia (MH).