In simple words: Drug-induced myopathy is a muscle problem caused by certain medications. It can make your muscles weak and painful. If it's not treated, it can cause serious kidney problems. Treatment usually involves stopping the medication that's causing the problem and managing the symptoms.

Drug-induced myopathy refers to a muscle disorder characterized by weakness, pain, and sometimes neurological issues, caused by medication. Chronic use of drugs like statins, interferons, clevudine, and ezetimibe can cause drug myotoxicity, leading to muscle damage and disability.Symptoms include muscle weakness, difficulty walking, pain, and soreness. Severe cases can result in rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria, potentially causing acute renal failure and even death. Diagnosis involves medical history, physical and neurological examination, blood tests (creatine kinase levels), muscle biopsy, EMG, NCV, and renal function tests. Treatment focuses on discontinuing the causative drug and managing symptoms to prevent disease progression. Physical therapy, orthotics, and family support may also be recommended.

Example 1: A patient taking a statin for high cholesterol develops muscle weakness and pain. After evaluation, the physician diagnoses drug-induced myopathy and discontinues the statin, prescribing a different cholesterol medication., A patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon develops progressive muscle weakness. Tests reveal elevated creatine kinase levels, and drug-induced myopathy is diagnosed. The interferon is stopped, and supportive care is initiated., A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy experiences muscle wasting and difficulty walking. After ruling out other causes, the physician diagnoses drug-induced myopathy. The corticosteroid dose is tapered, and physical therapy is recommended.

Documentation should include the type of myopathy, causal relationship to the drug, clinical findings (muscle weakness, pain, etc.), laboratory results (creatine kinase, renal function tests), electromyography/nerve conduction studies findings, muscle biopsy findings (if performed), and treatment plan.