Drugs That May Cause Muscle Weakness Or Wasting

Muscle problems have many possible causes. Inflammation of the muscle, called myositis, causes muscle weakness and wasting. Several types of drugs are linked to the development of myositis in some people. These include some recreational drugs, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, drugs affecting the hormonal system, drugs for cholesterol as well as heart and stomach drugs.

Recreational Drugs

Consumption of some recreational drugs is known to cause muscle problems. Alcoholic myopathy, also known as alcoholic rhabdomyolysis, is a condition in which the skeletal muscle breaks down during an alcohol binge or withdrawal from chronic use. If mild it may cause no symptoms. It can lead to muscle weakness and wasting, and if severe the proteins released from muscle break down into the blood and can damage the kidneys. A binge on cocaine can also cause muscle tissue to break down...

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