Written by Carrie Stracke | Reviewed by Uche Ruth
Updated on June 03, 2024
You may recognize the term “rhabdomyolysis” as a potential side effect of some common medications, like statins — the most common cholesterol medications. It has also gained some attention as a serious complication of intense exercise routines.
Rhabdomyolysis is a medical condition that occurs when muscle tissue breaks down and leaks into the bloodstream. It can happen with direct injury to the muscle — like with crush injury or heavy weight lifting. But it can also be a side effect of medication or other medical conditions — like diabetes or certain infections. So we’ll explain more about who is at risk for this condition, common symptoms, and treatment.
Rhabdomyolysis can occur when muscle tissue breaks down. It starts with an increase in calcium in the muscle cell. When this happens, muscle components — like creatine kinase, myoglobin, and electrolytes — are released into the bloodstream. And this can become a problem when these byproducts reach a level that is toxic to the body.
The kidney is one of the main affected organs. Myoglobin can be harmful to the kidneys, and it can clog up their filtration system as the kidneys try to remove the myoglobin from the body. When this happens, rhabdomyolysis can cause rapid and serious kidney failure. And, in rare cases, it can lead to death.
A variety of medications have been linked to rhabdomyolysis. Like all other causes of rhabdomyolysis, these medications increase the amount of calcium inside a muscle cell, which kicks off a cascade that leads to muscle breakdown. The most commonly associated medications and drugs include:
About half of the time, rhabdomyolysis occurs within 1 month of starting a new medication.
It makes sense that any significant injury to a muscle can lead to rhabdomyolysis. But many different conditions and medications can cause rhabdomyolysis, too. Causes of rhabdomyolysis include:
The three most common signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include:
Other symptoms that can occur with rhabdomyolysis include:
The goal of rhabdomyolysis treatment is to prevent kidney injury. This is mainly done by keeping someone well hydrated with IV (intravenous) fluids that help flush out the kidneys. It also requires careful electrolyte replacement, with doses of IV potassium and calcium.
For most people, this treatment occurs over several days in the hospital under close monitoring. If your kidney function is not improving, in some cases you may need dialysis. This is often just for a short period of time — to give your kidneys time to recover. Most people with kidney injury from rhabdomyolysis fully recover their kidney function.
Rhabdomyolysis is a serious medical condition. It requires treatment in a hospital with IV fluids and medication to prevent kidney failure and serious complications. So it’s best not to try and ride it out at home or hope it will resolve itself. If you think you may be experiencing some of the symptoms mentioned above, see your provider as soon as possible.
Many things can lead to muscle aches or pains, so it’s important to let your provider know about any side effects you experience. Be sure to have this conversation before stopping or making any changes to your prescription medications.
Keep in mind that rhabdomyolysis is not a subtle ache or pain, and it’s a rare reaction. Your provider may have you stop your medication for 2 weeks to see if the symptoms resolve. Or they may perform a blood test that can confirm a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis.
These drugs are vital for controlling and improving the health of individuals with this condition. They include both preventive and symptomatic treatments.
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