Orphenadrine (citrate)

Orphenadrine is a prescription medication used to relieve pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries. Orphenadrine belongs to a group of drugs called skeletal muscle relaxants. These work by changing the way the body senses muscle pain.

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given into the vein (IV) or into the muscle (IM) by a healthcare provider.

This medication also comes as an extended-release tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day, with or without food.

Common side effects include dry mouth, weakness, nausea, and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how orphenadrine affects you.
 

Orphenadrine is a prescription medication used to relieve pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Orphenadrine (citrate) may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Norflex

• Norgesic

• Orphengesic

Common side effects with orphenadrine include the following:

• dry mouth
• weakness
• nausea
• blurred vision
• dizziness
• a racing heartbeat
• heartbeat sensations
• decreased ability to urinate
• increased eye pressure
• vomiting
• headache
• dizziness
• constipation
• drowsiness
• itch
• hallucinations
• agitation
• shakes or tremor
• stomach irritation
• mental confusion

This is not a complete list of this medication’s side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• amantadine (Symadine, Symmetrel)
• fluphenazine (Prolixin)
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• medications for colds or allergies
• medications for depression
• perphenazine (Trilafon)
• prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• promethazine (Phenergan)
• sedatives
• sleeping pills
• trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• alcohol

This is not a complete list of all drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with this medication. Seek medication attention right away if you experience any of the following:

• fast or irregular heartbeat
• fainting
• confusion
• hallucinations
• hypersensitivity reaction (a severe allergic reaction). Signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity include
• chest pain
• swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• rash

Orphenadrine can cause blurry vision, dizziness, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how orphenadrine affects you.

Do not take this medication if you:

• are allergic to orphenadrine or to any of its ingredients
• have glaucoma
• have a pyloric or duodenal obstruction
• have stenosing peptic ulcers
• have prostatic hypertrophy or obstruction of the bladder neck
• have cardio-spasm (megaesophagus)
• have myasthenia gravis

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of this medication, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet.

Before taking orphenadrine,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to orphenadrine,any other medications, or any of the ingredients in orphenadrine tablets or extended-release tablets.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma; myasthenia gravis; ulcers; a urinary tract or intestinal blockage; an enlarged prostate; an irregular heartbeat; or liver, kidney, or heart disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking orphenadrine, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking orphenadrine.
• you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how orphenadine will affect you.
• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol can make the side effects of orphenadrine worse.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. Animal studies have not been done with orphenadrine. It is also not known whether orphenadrine can cause harm to the fetus (unborn baby) if given to a pregnant woman. Orphenadrine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Oral:

• Orphenadrine comes as an extended-release tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day. Try to take orphenadrine at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take orphenadrine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Injectable:

• This medication comes in an injectable form to be given into the vein (IV) or into the muscle (IM) by a healthcare provider.

Oral:

• The recommended dose of Norflex (orphenadrine citrate) is 2 tablets per day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Injectable:

• The recommended dose is 60 mg injected once or twice a day into the muscle (IM) or into a vein (IV).

If you take too much this medication, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store at room temperature,
• Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.