Norflex

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList:5/9/2023

Drug Summary

What Is Norflex?

Norflex (orphenadrine citrate) is amuscle relaxantindicated as an adjunct to rest,physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomfort associated with acute painful musculoskeletal conditions. The brand name Norflex is discontinued. Orphenadrine citrate is available as ageneric.

What Are Side Effects of Norflex?

Norflex may cause serious side effects including:

  • lightheadedness,
  • painful ordifficult urination,
  • little or no urination,
  • confusion,
  • anxiety,
  • agitation,
  • tremors,
  • hallucinations, and
  • pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Side effects of Norflex include:

  • dry mouth,
  • fast heart rate,
  • palpitations,
  • urinary hesitancy or retention,
  • blurred vision,
  • dilated pupils,
  • increasedoculartension,
  • weakness,
  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • headache,
  • dizziness,
  • constipation,
  • drowsiness,
  • hypersensitivity reactions,
  • 瘙痒,
  • hallucinations,
  • agitation,
  • tremor,
  • stomach irritation, and
  • rarely, hives and other skin conditions.

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision,tunnel vision、眼睛疼痛或肿胀,或看到晕周围闲逛hts;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Norflex

The adult dose of Norflex tablets is two tablets per day; one in the morning and one in the evening. The adult dose of Norflex injection is one 2 mL ampul (60 mg) intravenously or intramuscularly; may be repeated every 12 hours. Relief may be maintained by 1 Norflex Extended-Release Tablet twice daily.


Norflex In Children

Safety and effectiveness of Norflex in pediatric patients have not been established.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Norflex?

Norflex may interact with other medicines.

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.


Norflex During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Norflex; it is unknown how it might affect a fetus. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

额外的通知ation

Our Drug name (generic) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Drug Description

DESCRIPTION

Orphenadrine citrate is the citrate salt of orphenadrine (2-dimethylaminoethyl 2- methylbenzhydryl ether citrate). It occurs as a white, crystalline powder having a bitter taste. It is practically odorless; sparingly soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol.

Norflex Injection contains 60 mg of orphenadrine citrate in aqueous solution in each ampul. Norflex (orphenadrine) Injection also contains: sodium bisulfite NF, 2.0 mg; sodium chloride USP, 5.8 mg; sodium hydroxide, to adjust pH; and water for injection USP,q.s.to 2 mL.

Indications & Dosage

INDICATIONS

Orphenadrine citrate is indicated as an adjunct to rest,physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomfort associated with acute painful musculo skeletal conditions.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

INJECTION:Adults - One 2 mL ampul (60 mg) intravenously or intramuscularly; may be repeated every 12 hours.

HOW SUPPLIED

INJECTION:Boxes of 6 (NDC 0089-0540-06 ) 2 mL ampuls, each ampul containing 60 mg of orphenadrine citrate in aqueous solution.

Store at controlled room temperature 15°-30°C (59°-86°F).

September 2007. Manufactured for Graceway Pharmaceuticals, LLC Bristol, TN 37620. By Hospira, Inc. Lake Forest, IL 60045. Effective Date: 10/01/2007. FDA Rev date: 2/11/2008

Side Effects & Drug Interactions

SIDE EFFECTS

Adverse reactions of orphenadrine are mainly due to the mild anti-cholinergic action of orphenadrine, and are usually associated with higher dosage. Dryness of the mouth is usually the firstadverse effectto appear. When the daily dose is increased, possible adverse effects include:tachycardia, palpitation, urinary hesitancy or retention, blurred vision, dilatation of pupils, increasedoculartension, weakness, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, constipation, drowsiness, hypersensitivity reactions,pruritus, hallucinations, agitation,tremor,gastricirritation, and rarelyurticariaand other dermatoses. Infrequently, an elderly patient may experience some degree of mental confusion. These adverse reactions can usually be eliminated by reduction in dosage. Very rare cases ofaplastic anemiaassociated with the use of orphenadrine tablets have been reported. No causal relationship has been established.

Rare instances of anaphylactic reaction have been reported associated with theintramuscularinjection of Norflex (orphenadrine) Injection.

Drug Abuse And Dependence

Orphenadrine has been chronically abused for its euphoric effects. The mood elevating effects may occur at therapeutic doses of orphenadrine.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

No information provided.

Warnings & Precautions

WARNINGS

Some patients may experience transient episodes of light-headedness, dizziness orsyncope. Norflex (orphenadrine) may impair the ability of the patient to engage in potentially hazardous activities such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle; ambulatory patients should therefore be cautioned accordingly.

Norflex (orphenadrine) Injection contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overallprevalenceofsulfite sensitivityin the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS

困惑、焦虑和震动的报告in few patients receiving propoxyphene and orphenadrine concomitantly. As these symptoms may be simply due to an additive effect, reduction of dosage and/or discontinuation of one or both agents is recommended in such cases.

Orphenadrine citrate should be used with caution in patients with tachycardia, cardiac decompensation, coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias.

Safety of continuous long-term therapy with orphenadrine has not been established. Therefore, if orphenadrine is prescribed for prolonged use, periodic monitoring of blood, urine and liver function values is recommended.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Norflex (orphenadrine) . It is also not know whether Norflex (orphenadrine) can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Norflex (orphenadrine) should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Overdose & Contraindications

OVERDOSE

Orphenadrine is toxic when overdosed and typically inducesanticholinergiceffects. In a review of orphenadrine toxicity, the minimum lethal dose was found to be 2-3 grams for adults; however, the range of toxicity is variable and unpredictable. Treatment for orphenadrine overdose is evacuation of stomach contents (when necessary), charcoal at repeated doses, intensive monitoring, and appropriate supportive treatment of any emergent anticholinergic effects.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated in patients withglaucoma, pyloric orduodenalobstruction, stenosing peptic ulcers, prostatichypertrophyor obstruction of thebladderneck, cardio-spasm (megaesophagus) andmyasthenia gravis.

Contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated a previous hypersensitivity to the drug.

ClinicalPharmacology

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

The mode of therapeutic action has not been clearly identified, but may be related to itsanalgesicproperties. Orphenadrine citrate does not directly relax tense muscles in man. Orphenadrine citrate also possesses anti-cholinergic actions.

Medication Guide

PATIENT INFORMATION

No information provided. Please refer to theWARNINGSandPRECAUTIONSsections.

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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit theFDA MedWatchwebsite or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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