Category
Parkinsonism therapy adjunct; Skeletal muscle relaxant
Description
Orphenadrine or-FEN-a-dreen is used to help relax certain muscles in your body and relieve the stiffness, pain, and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or other injury to your muscles. One form of orphenadrine is also used to relieve trembling caused by Parkinson's disease. However, this medicine does not take the place of rest, exercise or physical therapy, or other treatment that your doctor may recommend for your medical problem.
Orphenadrine acts in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce its muscle relaxant effects. Orphenadrine also has other actions (anticholinergic) that produce its helpful effects in Parkinson's disease. Orphenadrine's CNS and anticholinergic actions may also be responsible for some of its side effects.
In the U.S., this medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. In Canada, it may be available without a prescription. It is available in the following dosage forms: Oral Tablets (Canada) Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada) Parenteral Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For orphenadrine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to orphenadrine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy
Orphenadrine has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether orphenadrine passes into the breast milk. However, orphenadrine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children
Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of orphenadrine in children with use in other age groups.
Older Adults
Many medicines have not been tested in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information about the use of orphenadrine in the elderly.
Other medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking orphenadrine, it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:
- alcohol or
- central nervous system (CNS) depressants or
- tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil], amoxapine [e.g., Asendin], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], desipramine [e.g., Pertofrane], doxepin [e.g., Sinequan], imipramine [e.g., Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g., Aventyl], protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g., Surmontil]) - The chance of side effects may be increased
Other medical problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of orphenadrine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- disease of the digestive tract, especially esophagus disease, stomach ulcer, or intestinal blockage, or
- enlarged prostate or
- fast or irregular heartbeat or
- glaucoma or
- myasthenia gravis or
- urinary tract blockage - Orphenadrine has side effects that may be harmful to people with these conditions
- heart disease or
- kidney disease or
- liver disease - The chance of side effects may be increased
Proper Use of This Medicine
The dose of orphenadrine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of orphenadrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Adults and Teenagers - Extended-Release tablet dosage form
Relaxing stiff, sore muscles - 100 milligrams (mg) two times a day, in the morning and evening.
Adults - oral tablet dosage form
For relaxing stiff, sore muscles and for Parkinson's disease - 50 mg three times a day.
Adults - Injection Dosage Form
For relaxing stiff, sore muscles - 60 mg, injected into a muscle or a vein, every twelve hours as needed.
Children
Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine and remember within an hour or so of the missed dose, take it right away. But if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
you will be taking this medicine for a long time (for example, more than a few weeks), your doctor should check your progress at regular visits.
This medicine may add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are
- antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds
- sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine
- prescription pain medicine or narcotics
- barbiturates
- medicine for seizures
- other muscle relaxants
- anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics
Do not drink alcoholic beverages, and check with your doctor before taking any of the medicines listed above, while you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause some people to have blurred vision or to become drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, faint, or less alert than they are normally. It may also cause muscle weakness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert and able to see well.
Orphenadrine may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if dry mouth continues for more than 2 weeks, check with your dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- decreased urination
- eye pain
- fainting
- fast or pounding heartbeat
- hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
- shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing
- skin rash, hives, itching, or redness
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
- swollen and/or painful glands
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
- dryness of mouth
- abdominal or stomach cramps or pain
- blurred or double vision or other vision problems
- confusion
- constipation
- difficult urination
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- drowsiness
- excitement, irritability, nervousness, or restlessness
- headache
- muscle weakness
- nausea or vomiting
- trembling
- unusually large pupils of eyes
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Brand Names
In the U.S.— Antiflex, Banflex, Flexoject, Mio-Rel, Myolin, Myotrol, Norflex, Orfro, Orphenate
In Canada— Disipal Norflex
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