Case Report: Rhabdomyolysis following initiation of tirzepatide.
Bodanowitz. Jonas Michael JM; Mattes. Isabell I; Loebermann. Micha M; Fritzsche. Carlos C
Key Findings
- Rhabdomyolysis occurred after the first increased dose of tirzepatide
- Symptoms resolved after stopping tirzepatide and receiving IV fluids
- This is the first reported case linking tirzepatide to rhabdomyolysis
Practical Outcomes
- If you’re using tirzepatide, especially off‑label for weight loss, start at low doses, watch for muscle pain or weakness, and consider checking creatine kinase levels. Stop the drug and seek medical care immediately if signs of rhabdomyolysis appear.
Summary
A 66‑year‑old woman got very weak, nauseous, and vomited after her first higher dose of tirzepatide, and her muscle enzyme levels shot up, showing rhabdomyolysis. The problem cleared up in four days once she stopped the drug and got IV fluids. This is the first known report linking tirzepatide to this muscle breakdown, so it warns people using the drug off‑label for weight loss to be careful.
Abstract
We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who developed weakness, nausea, and vomiting accompanied by markedly elevated creatine kinase levels after first treatment with an increased dose of tirzepatide. Laboratory findings were consistent with rhabdomyolysis and normalized within 4 days following discontinuation of tirzepatide and initiation of supportive intravenous fluid therapy. The temporal relationship strongly suggests tirzepatide as a likely trigger. Off-label use, particularly for weight loss, should be avoided and approached with caution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of rhabdomyolysis following the initial administration of tirzepatide.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
10.3389/fphar.2025.1660785
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