A client on antilipemic therapy reports muscle weakness. Which serious condition should be monitored?

When a client on antilipemic therapy reports muscle weakness, it is crucial to monitor for rhabdomyolysis. This condition is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication that can occur as a side effect of certain antilipemic medications, especially statins. Rhabdomyolysis involves the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to the release of harmful substances like myoglobin into the bloodstream, potentially resulting in acute kidney injury.

Muscle weakness is an early symptom of rhabdomyolysis. Recognizing this symptom allows for early intervention, which is essential in preventing more severe complications. While myopathy is also a concern and can occur alongside rhabdomyolysis, the latter is considered more severe due to the risk of kidney damage.

Monitoring for rhabdomyolysis will typically include assessing the patient’s muscle enzyme levels, particularly creatine kinase (CK), as elevated CK levels can indicate muscle breakdown. Thus, attention to symptoms and timely medical response is critical for patient safety when muscle weakness arises during antilipemic therapy.