Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
Update Date: 2008/08/15 04:09
Reporter Wei Yijia / Taipei Report
Domestic clinical observations have found that approximately 10-20% of individuals taking cholesterol-lowering medications experience muscle soreness as a side effect. However, many patients are unaware of this, especially elderly individuals who may mistakenly attribute the soreness to degenerative arthritis. Severe muscle soreness can potentially lead to rhabdomyolysis, causing acute kidney failure and even death, which should not be overlooked.
Doctors indicate that the pain from degenerative arthritis is mostly concentrated in the joints, whereas the soreness caused by cholesterol-lowering drugs is more common in the upper body and shoulders. Patients can easily distinguish between the two with a bit of attention. After switching medications or adjusting dosages, the soreness symptoms can often be alleviated.
Mr. Gan, aged 65, was diagnosed with high cholesterol seven years ago and began taking cholesterol-lowering medication. During treatment, he experienced muscle soreness in his chest and legs. Initially, he thought it was due to a strain from playing badminton, but the discomfort persisted without improvement. Realizing something was wrong, he communicated with his doctor and discovered the issue was related to the cholesterol-lowering medication. After the doctor reduced the dosage, his muscle soreness eased.
Dr. Chen Liang-gong, Director of Geriatrics at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that muscle soreness as a side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs is mentioned in the drug information, but few people notice it. Some may think muscle soreness is no big deal, but for the elderly, it can be quite significant, especially since cholesterol-lowering drugs are primarily taken by older adults.
When elderly individuals experience muscle soreness as a side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs, it not only affects their quality of life but can also lead to a decline in self-care abilities, causing them to stay bedridden and homebound. Dr. Chen shared an example from his clinic: an elderly patient who used to swim and walk several kilometers daily became unable to even leave the house due to muscle soreness caused by the medication.
Dr. Chen pointed out that since cholesterol-lowering drugs are mostly taken by the elderly, many older patients may mistakenly attribute the soreness to degenerative arthritis. However, the muscle soreness caused by cholesterol-lowering drugs differs from that of degenerative arthritis. Clinical observations show that such patients often experience muscle pain in the upper body, particularly the shoulders, without obvious tender points. With a bit of attention, patients can easily distinguish between the two.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 080815/ 78/ 1447s. html
Muscle Pain from Cholesterol Medication Often Misdiagnosed as Degenerative Arthritis
Reporter Wei Yijia / Taipei Report
Domestic clinical observations have found that approximately 10-20% of individuals taking cholesterol-lowering medications experience muscle soreness as a side effect. However, many patients are unaware of this, especially elderly individuals who may mistakenly attribute the soreness to degenerative arthritis. Severe muscle soreness can potentially lead to rhabdomyolysis, causing acute kidney failure and even death, which should not be overlooked.
Doctors indicate that the pain from degenerative arthritis is mostly concentrated in the joints, whereas the soreness caused by cholesterol-lowering drugs is more common in the upper body and shoulders. Patients can easily distinguish between the two with a bit of attention. After switching medications or adjusting dosages, the soreness symptoms can often be alleviated.
Mr. Gan, aged 65, was diagnosed with high cholesterol seven years ago and began taking cholesterol-lowering medication. During treatment, he experienced muscle soreness in his chest and legs. Initially, he thought it was due to a strain from playing badminton, but the discomfort persisted without improvement. Realizing something was wrong, he communicated with his doctor and discovered the issue was related to the cholesterol-lowering medication. After the doctor reduced the dosage, his muscle soreness eased.
Dr. Chen Liang-gong, Director of Geriatrics at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that muscle soreness as a side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs is mentioned in the drug information, but few people notice it. Some may think muscle soreness is no big deal, but for the elderly, it can be quite significant, especially since cholesterol-lowering drugs are primarily taken by older adults.
When elderly individuals experience muscle soreness as a side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs, it not only affects their quality of life but can also lead to a decline in self-care abilities, causing them to stay bedridden and homebound. Dr. Chen shared an example from his clinic: an elderly patient who used to swim and walk several kilometers daily became unable to even leave the house due to muscle soreness caused by the medication.
Dr. Chen pointed out that since cholesterol-lowering drugs are mostly taken by the elderly, many older patients may mistakenly attribute the soreness to degenerative arthritis. However, the muscle soreness caused by cholesterol-lowering drugs differs from that of degenerative arthritis. Clinical observations show that such patients often experience muscle pain in the upper body, particularly the shoulders, without obvious tender points. With a bit of attention, patients can easily distinguish between the two.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 080815/ 78/ 1447s. html