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What Causes Muscle Weakness After Taking Tapazole?
Question: Hi Doctor, I am 29 years old, diagnosed with hyperactive thyroid in August 2014 and have been using tapazole 5mg for more than one year. Recently, I feel stiff all over my body especially in my back and shoulders. My muscles have been so week. I have never experienced such weakness in my muscles before. Could you please let me know if it can be a long term side effect of using tapazole?
Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you
Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you
Brief Answer:
Possible
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to note the muscle weakness you are experiencing now.
Although this is not known to be a major side effect of tapazole, it can occur. Joint pains are reported more commonly than muscle aches.
There is no test in the world to prove this as to whether or not tapazole is responsible for your symptoms. The only way to really know for sure is to stop it for a week or so and see if the symptoms improve. Furthermore, if the symptoms re-occur upon resuming the tablet then it is very likely , the muscle weakness is due to tapazole.
Now stopping the medication will potentially cause the thyroid overactivity to return. So if you are willing to consider trying this, then please do so under the close supervision of an endocrinologist only.
There are other reasons for muscle weakness too. So it would be prudent to rule those out before attempting a cessation of tapazole.
So when I see someone like you in my practice, I order the following tests in addition to a thorough physical examination:
CBC
CMP
TSH
Free T4
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
It is important to check current thyroid function as above because both over-treated and under-treated thyroids can result in muscle problems. The above listed tests will also look for blood haemoglobin and electrolyte status along with vitamin D levels, as problems with these can be associated with muscle weakness too
Possible
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to note the muscle weakness you are experiencing now.
Although this is not known to be a major side effect of tapazole, it can occur. Joint pains are reported more commonly than muscle aches.
There is no test in the world to prove this as to whether or not tapazole is responsible for your symptoms. The only way to really know for sure is to stop it for a week or so and see if the symptoms improve. Furthermore, if the symptoms re-occur upon resuming the tablet then it is very likely , the muscle weakness is due to tapazole.
Now stopping the medication will potentially cause the thyroid overactivity to return. So if you are willing to consider trying this, then please do so under the close supervision of an endocrinologist only.
There are other reasons for muscle weakness too. So it would be prudent to rule those out before attempting a cessation of tapazole.
So when I see someone like you in my practice, I order the following tests in addition to a thorough physical examination:
CBC
CMP
TSH
Free T4
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
It is important to check current thyroid function as above because both over-treated and under-treated thyroids can result in muscle problems. The above listed tests will also look for blood haemoglobin and electrolyte status along with vitamin D levels, as problems with these can be associated with muscle weakness too
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. Topiwala,
Thanks for your quick reply. Actually, I have joint pain too. I was not aware that it could be a side effect of Tapazole. I live in a very cold city (Western Alberta). So, the doctors' initial guess for my joint pain was rheumatoid. I was checked for Rheumatoid Factor Blood Test and C-Reactive Protein. Both were normal. Then, they did ultrasound for my wrist and fingers (I had pain mostly in that area) and it was normal too. Finally, they could not find the reason for that. The prescribed physiotherapy but it just reduces the symptoms and helps pain relief for a short period of time. I have never been checked for vitamin D and electrolyte. Thanks for your good suggestions about that. I will do the test during the week.
Thanks for your quick reply. Actually, I have joint pain too. I was not aware that it could be a side effect of Tapazole. I live in a very cold city (Western Alberta). So, the doctors' initial guess for my joint pain was rheumatoid. I was checked for Rheumatoid Factor Blood Test and C-Reactive Protein. Both were normal. Then, they did ultrasound for my wrist and fingers (I had pain mostly in that area) and it was normal too. Finally, they could not find the reason for that. The prescribed physiotherapy but it just reduces the symptoms and helps pain relief for a short period of time. I have never been checked for vitamin D and electrolyte. Thanks for your good suggestions about that. I will do the test during the week.
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I see.
Hope you are able to get to the bottom of this
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I see.
Hope you are able to get to the bottom of this
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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