title: Drugs and toxins associated with myopathies.
abstract: Drug-induced muscle dysfunction represents a significant and perhaps increasing subset of neuromuscular disorders that face the clinician. Whereas severe symptoms of proximal weakness and elevated muscle enzymes in an uncomplicated patient taking a single medication may lead to straightforward diagnosis, the tendency for patients with multisystem disease, on multiple medications, with multiple potential causes for weakness makes the diagnosis of toxic myopathy challenging. Furthermore, many toxic myopathies are characterized by nonspecific clinical and laboratory findings, ultimately requiring a trial of drug discontinuation in order to clarify the diagnosis. This review summarizes recent observations with regard to toxic effects on neuromuscular transmission and toxic myopathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pascuzzi
mesh_terms: D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D001906:Botulism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000209:etiology; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D001905:Botulinum Toxins