Orphenadrine Citrate ER Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Precautions Before Starting Orphenadrine Citrate ER

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to orphenadrine, any inactive ingredients present in orphenadrine citrate salt tablets, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of all your medicines, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal remedies. This can help avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Orphenadrine may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions, such as stenosing peptic ulcers, a blockage in the urinary tract or digestive tract, enlarged prostate, glaucoma (increased ocular tension), myasthenia gravis, heart disease (cardiac arrhythmias, coronary insufficiency), kidney disease, or liver disease.

It is unclear if orphenadrine can affect reproduction capacity or cause harm to an unborn baby. Nonetheless, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy soon, or are breast-feeding.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits versus risks of taking orphenadrine if you are older than age 65 years. There may be other safer muscle relaxants available.

Precautions During Use of Orphenadrine Citrate ER

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on orphenadrine. Your doctor may want to do periodic monitoring of blood tests, urine tests, and liver function values.

Orphenadrine can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blurry vision. Avoid driving a motor vehicle, operating machinery, or doing other potentially hazardous activities until you know the effects of this medication on your body. Alcoholic beverages can make these side effects worse. 

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on orphenadrine.

Tell all your doctors you are on orphenadrine, especially before any surgery, including dental procedures.

Orphenadrine Citrate ER Drug Interactions

Taking orphenadrine concomitantly with certain other drugs can affect how the medicines work. Possible interactions between orphenadrine and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. The following medications can have interactions with orphenadrine:

• Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease, such as amantadine (Symadine, Symmetrel)
• Medications prescribed for psychiatric conditions, such as fluphenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), perphenazine (Trilafon), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• Medications used to treat allergies and colds, such as promethazine (Phenergan)
• Antidepressants 
• Sedatives and sleeping pills

The above list does not include all possible interactions of orphenadrine. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, OTC medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.