Dantrolene sodium fails to reverse robust brain hyperthermia induced by MDMA and methamphetamine in rats.
Psychopharmacology April 1, 2023 Keaton T Cameron-Burr, R Aaron Bola, Eugene A Kiyatkin 5 citations
Dantrolene sodium, a drug used for malignant hyperthermia, does not reduce hyperthermia caused by MDMA or methamphetamine in rats and may increase lethality. In awake rats, moderate doses of MDMA or methamphetamine raised body temperature by more than 2.5 °C; intravenous dantrolene (6 mg/kg) after hyperthermia onset failed to lower brain, muscle, or skin temperatures, though it reduced movement. In a warm environment (29 °C) where MDMA caused severe hyperthermia (>40 °C) and death, dantrolene did not prevent lethality—all treated rats died during or after the session. The findings indicate dantrolene formulations are not suited to treat hyperthermia from these psychomotor stimulants.