The pain in these conditions is different than muscle pain and there are often other signs that give away the cause. Opioids (hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, morphine): Yes, the drugs used to treat pain can also cause pain. However, the most common side effect is muscle pain and cramping. Examples of medications that can cause muscle weakness include: amiodarone (Cordarone) antithyroid medications, such as methimazole (Tapazole) or propylthiouracil Imagine living in pain for years only to find out that one of your medications is the reason that you are in pain. Diseases of the neuromuscular system, injuries, metabolic diseases, and toxins can all cause of measurable muscle weakness. If mild it may cause no symptoms. However, observational studies have shown that at least 10% to 15% of statin users complain of muscle pain [6][40]. Repetitive motion injuries. If you have recently begun using one of these medications in the past year or two and have suddenly started to feel pain, talk with your doctor about the possibility of these medications being the root cause of your pain. Christina Lasich, M.D., wrote about chronic pain and osteoarthritis for HealthCentral. This cycle causes a frequent roller coaster of up's and down's that sensitizes the nervous system to the point that you feel more pain. Not only do you feel more pain, you feel anxious, restless and have trouble sleeping. Some cause headaches, others cause foot pain. Chemotherapy agents used to treat cancer may cause muscle problems and can also lower blood counts 2. Simvastatin is the most likely to cause muscle pain, and fluvastatin and pitavastatin are the least likely. Inflammation contributes to these symptoms, technically making this a form of myositis. Two of the top five medications that cause pain are available over-the-counter, without a prescription, without physician guidance. SAMS can vary in frequency and severity. Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: Thousands of people take medications to lower cholesterol levels. I haven't taken either of these medications, but it thought it may help to know that the symptoms you experienced are common, so the discontinuation of Plaquenil could indeed improve these areas. Antivirals such as zidovudine and lamivudine used to treat HIV are offenders, as are antiparasitics such as chloroquine used to treat malaria. Depending upon the cause, muscle pain can be mild or severe and debilitating. If you have been using opioid drugs for years and the pain keeps getting worse and worse, this vicious pain cycle could be a result of opioid-induced hyperalgesia. You might be unaware that your pain could be related to these medications that are under your control. 10) Blood pressure medication — carvedilol. A portion of these people will also live a life with chronic pain as a result of these medications. Antivirals such as zidovudine and lamivudine used to treat HIV are offenders, as are antiparasitics such as chloroquine used to treat malaria. Gemfibrozil is another. Muscle problems have many possible causes. Having said that, some types of pain are hard to localize. Tendinitis symptoms include muscle and tendon pain or stiffness close to a joint, and pain with movement. These drugs can cause ", Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs: Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve): These, Chemotherapy Drugs: Many doctors who prescribe chemotherapy are well aware that these drugs can cause. Antibiotics typically refers to drugs that treat bacterial infections, and antivirals are medications that treat viral infections. –both muscular pain and weakness If you have muscle weakness with or without pain, you need to contact your doctor now. Muscle weakness and severe muscle aches throughout the body can be symptoms of statin-induced rhabdomyolysis, a rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle that causes muscle fibers to be released into the bloodstream. Feeling tired and suffering from weak muscles is quite often an early sign of a cold or the flu. Researchers at Washington University … Muscle damage and (leg) pain being just 2 examples. Weakness may be generalized or may affect one muscle or muscle group exclusively. Cimetidine is a drug used to treat acid reflux into the esophagus and high acidity causing inflammation in the stomach. © 2020 Remedy Health Media, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, https://www.healthcentral.com/article/top-5-drugs-that-can-cause-pain, OTC anti-inflammatory medication can also cause pain, nerve damage in the form of peripheral neuropathy, revent the neuropathy from occurring in the first place by taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine (1000 mg three times daily), Muscle pain and weakness is well known to be a resulting side-effect from cholesterol-lowering drugs, standard for trustworthy health information, Caffeine-containing medications (including Excedrin, Midol, Anacin): If you are experiencing headaches and you are also using a caffeine-containing medication more than two or three times per week, your headaches might be caused by these over-the-counter (OTC) medications. For instance, spinal stenosis can cause leg pain when walking that is hard to distinguish from muscle pain … Muscle pain due to injury or overuse is most commonly localized to one area. Statins, such as simvastatin are one class known to do this. Of course, this isn’t written in stone since it’s possible for any statin to have this effect. This guide will deal with true weakness, meaning reduced power in the muscles. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. This type of pain is usually localized, affecting just a few muscles or a small part of your body. electrolyte imbalances, such as hypokalemia (potassium deficiency), hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency), and hypercalcemia (elevated calcium in … Some antibiotics such as sulfonamides and penicillin can cause muscle disorders. Immune scavenger cells (green) crowd around muscle fibers (red), damaging them and causing muscle pain and weakness. 2. This leads to gradual muscle weakness and fatigue. He is a pathologist and has experience in internal medicine and cancer research. Myalgia:This type of muscle pain usually feels like mild soreness in the shoulders, arms, hips or thighs. The cause of your pain might be easy to figure out, especially if you experienced a traumatic injury or recently exercised at the health club. These include some recreational drugs, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, drugs affecting the hormonal system, drugs for cholesterol as well as heart and stomach drugs. Drugs used to lower cholesterol can cause muscle aching, weakness and breakdown. Vigorous exercise can lead to muscle pain, swelling, and weakness for hours or days after a workout. 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. Consumption of some recreational drugs is known to cause muscle problems. The pharmaceutical industry readily admits that statin therapy may cause muscle pain and/or muscle weakness in some cases, but they claim that the incidence of these side effects is small, on the order of 2%. The most common causes of muscle pain are tension, stress, overuse and minor injuries. 3. Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries. Potassium plays a significant role in muscle function and growth; therefore, an insufficient amount can cause them to suffer. Medications are supposed to help not hurt, right? Systemic muscle pain — pain throughout your whole body — is more often the result of an infection, an illness or a side effect of a medication. Some drugs affecting hormones may cause muscular side effects. "PDR: Physicians Desk Reference 2009 "; PDR Staff; 63rd Ed 2009, "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy"; Mark H. Beers et al; 18th Ed. A binge on cocaine can also cause muscle tissue to break down. Heart Drugs. It can affect people of any age, but is more … You don't want to be the last one to know that your drugs can be causing your pain. In very rare cases, statins may cause liver problems or a potentially life-threatening breakdown in muscle cells. Because the opioids turn your natural pain relieving system off, your body is left without enough chemicals in the system as the drug wears off every four to six hours. Statin-related muscle inflammation and damage occur on a continuum. Lithium is a form mood-stabilizing bipolar medication that can cause pain in the joints and muscles, according to the National Institute of Mental Health 2. If this sounds familiar, then it is time to find an exit strategy off the opioid roller-coaster that you are on.2. At least one drug used in the treatment of irregular heart rhythms … Accidents, falls, sudden twisting motions, and athletic activities are frequent causes. A continuum of muscle problems The clearest risk from statins is muscle damage resulting in weakness, tenderness, or pain. She is physiatrist in Grass Valley, California. Medications used to lower thyroid hormones, such as methimazole and propylthiouracil also can cause muscle weakness and wasting. Upper arm muscle pain can substantially affect your day-to-day activities. Mild cases are not usually a medical emergency. Supplementing with magnesium can also help muscle cramps. These symptoms commonly occur in large muscles in the legs, chest, upper arms, shoulders, or lower back, but can occur elsewhere. The syndrome easily could be mistaken for other muscle … A previously unknown autoimmune muscle disease involving sudden onset of debilitating muscle pain and weakness has been identified. It might cause drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling, depending on … It is great that you have responded so well to the new medication. Muscle pain is the hallmark symptom of some chronic conditions like fibromyalgia. Being aware of the danger that some of the medications you are using might also be causing your pain is an important step towards potentially getting off that ride. Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). According to research recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, this class of drugs affects the … Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness in your voluntary skeletal muscles. On rare occasions, statin drugs break down muscle cells, releasing a protein enzyme called creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Colchicine is one such drug. Consumption of some recreational drugs is known to cause muscle problems. At least one drug used in the treatment of irregular heart rhythms can cause muscle problems 2. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are drugs that mimic the stress hormones released by the adrenal glands, and can cause muscle wasting, particularly with long term use. Premarin causes joint pain in up to 14% of women taking it. What Are the Causes of Elevated Muscle Enzymes? Impaired Muscle Control and Balance Benzodiazepines and antipsychotics such as olanzapine and quetiapine can impair muscle control and coordination, explains MayoClinic.com. 2. Coping strategies for easing muscle pain, regardless of the cause, may be useful in the meantime: massage, warm baths, and gentle exercise, for example. Antibiotics typically refers to drugs that treat bacterial infections, and antivirals are medications that treat viral infections. A herniated disk is a common cause of lower back and leg pain. Carvedilol is used to treat patients with high blood pressure and in cases of heart failure where the heart cannot adequately pump blood to the body. Immune scavenger cells (green) crowd around muscle fibers (red), damaging them and causing muscle pain and weakness. Muscle strains, soreness, pulls or tears are anything from a simple overstretching of a muscle all the way to a complete tear. Likewise, antiparasitics are drugs that treat parasites. Muscle pain can be localized to one muscle group or diffuse, involving multiple muscle groups. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a previously unknown, rare muscle disease that can be treated with immunosuppressing drugs. 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. Sarcoidosis. from the University of Virginia. Corticosteroid Injections can cause more pain, and can cause tendon damage from a couple different directions. The next three medications that can cause pain are only available with a prescription, but that does not necessarily mean that your doctor would realize that your pain could be related to one of these drugs. 2006. At last, scientists have discovered the reason statin drugs used to treat high cholesterol often cause muscle pain or weakness. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in … The following are the three most common forms of statin-related muscle pain: 1. **Several types of drugs are linked to the development of myositis in some people 2. It is also known to potentially cause problems such as diarrhea, constipation, headache, fatigue and muscle wasting. Inflammation of the muscle, called myositis, causes muscle weakness and wasting 2. A substance called myoglobin within the muscle cells that is released can result in severe kidney damage and even kidney failure. She specializes in pain management and spine rehabilitation. Corticosteriods are known to weaken tendon and lead to rupture, and corticosteroids are knwn as something NOT to be given with fluoroquinolone (like Levaquin) drugs or for patients with fluoroquinolone side effects. Unfortunately, some commonly used drugs can cause pain, even the ones available without a prescription. Myalgia also often comes with mild feelings of weakness. Medications used to lower thyroid hormones, such as methimazole and propylthiouracil also can cause muscle weakness and wasting. Fortunately, most cases of muscle weakness which lack obvious cause are reversible. Carvedilol is a type of medication known as a “beta-blocker”, which relaxes the muscle cells in the heart and blood vessels to lower blood pressure. Many symptoms include tiredness, weakness, and aching muscles - all of which can present themselves fairly suddenly, and can last from a few days up to two weeks. Muscle weakness is rarely the only sign of serious underlying disease. If you have been using opioid … See your doctor for a pre… If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Myositis: Myositis, a type of myopathy, causes muscle pain and inflammation, as well as an elevation in CK (a muscle enzyme) levels in the blood. A binge on cocaine can also cause muscle tissue to break down. Very … Other drugs used to increase blood counts, such as leuprolide, may cause muscle breakdown as well. The p… Nevertheless, other causes of upper arm muscle pain, such as shoulder injuries, nerve compression or medical conditions consisting of cancer, stroke or heart attack, may not be immediately evident. Symptoms of muscle weakness include difficulty rising from a chair, brushing your hair, lifting an object off a high shelf, or dropping things. Symptoms of muscle injury include pain, weakness, bruising, swelling, and cramping (involuntary muscle spasms and contractions).Injury can result from: 1. All of these commonly used drugs can take people on a bad ride with chronic pain. Blunt force trauma caused by a strong impact to the body. That buildup can eventually cause the arteries to narrow or harden. Opioids (hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, morphine): Yes, the drugs used to treat pain can also cause pain. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Long-Term Effects of Bipolar Disorder Medication. This author has been verfied for credibility and expertise. Cholesterol Drugs. Dr. Matthew Fox graduated from the University of California with a Bachelor of Arts in molecular, cell and developmental biology and received a M.D. Muscle complaints are common in thyroid disease and can generally be alleviated with normalization of your thyroid function. Sarcoidosis is a rare disease that can cause swelling and hard lumps in the lymph nodes and organs. Statins, such as simvastatin are one class known to do this. Where ever there is pain, a medication could be the root cause of it. 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