title: Fatigue as the only clinical manifestation of colchicine induced myopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fatigue may be induced by drug. Here, we reported that patients had fatigue after medication with colchicines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients (8 Males, age: 42-72 years old) had fatigue but without weakness as their chief complaints. They all described an inability to maintain a sustained effort, which was ameliorated by rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The course of fatigue was insidious and progressive (mean 3.1 2.3 months, range 1-7 months) along with medication of colchicines (mean 20.3 5.5 months, range 11-28 months). Fatigue severity scale (patient: before drug withdrawal 5.41 0.19; 4 weeks after drug withdrawal 2.46 0.28; control 2.12 0.45) showed fatigue as their most disabling symptom, sometimes preventing them to carry on professional as well as socio-familial activities. The plasma creatine kinase elevated in these 8 patients before withdrawal of colchicines and returned to normal range in each subject 4 weeks after drug withdrawal. A probable diagnosis of drug-induced fatigue was made when symptom subsided after colchicines were discontinued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is emphasized that side effect of drug should be considered as a differential diagnosis of fatigue in patients having colchicines. Early recognition and diagnosis will prevent serious muscle damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yang-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Kong-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chuen-Der
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jen-Tse
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kuan-Lin
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Yung-Yang
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi-Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwong-Kum
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003078:Colchicine / Q000633:toxicity*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D003078:Colchicine