Drug-induced myopathies
Alerts and Notices
Important News & Links
Synopsis
More severe drug-induced myopathies can include chronic myopathy, myositis (dermatomyositis, polymyositis), myonecrosis, or rhabdomyolysis with the potential for life-threatening complications of myoglobinuria, hyperkalemia, and acute renal failure.
Other signs and symptoms include muscle soreness, tenderness, swelling, stiffness, spasms, cramps, diminished tendon reflexes, dyspnea, dysphagia, weight loss, oliguria, discolored urine, and/or exercise intolerance. A patient may also present with fatigue and generalized, symmetrical weakness, typically proximal. Pain is not always present. Sometimes patients are asymptomatic.
Statins are a known cause of myopathy, and the risk and severity of muscle toxicity increases with dose. Patients with statin-induced myopathy may present with flu-like symptoms along with muscle complaints. Other associated medications include fibrates (gemfibrozil), corticosteroids (prednisone), cyclosporine, daptomycin, cimetidine, penicillamine, levodopa, interferon-a, gemcitabine, procainamide, laxatives, diuretics, zidovudine, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, emetine, vincristine, isotretinoin, colchicine, excessive antacids, antipsychotic drugs, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, heroin, cocaine, and amphetamine. Alcohol can also induce myopathy. Alcohol-induced myopathy typically presents hours after a binge-drinking episode in patients with a history of chronic alcohol use.
Related topics: Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, Mitochondrial myopathy, Drug-induced muscle spasm
Codes
G72.0 – Drug-induced myopathy
SNOMEDCT:
240101000 – Drug-induced myopathy
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Subscription Required
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
Drug Reaction Data
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Updated:04/03/2018