Anyone else experience stiff and weak muscles while on the medications

Posted by legacygsh1 @legacygsh1, Aug 30 11:01pm

I've been on Azithromycin, and Ethambutol for 15 months, and Clofazimine, and inhaled Amikacin were added 5 months ago for my Bronchiectasis and MAC cavity disease. I find I am moving so much slower, having weakness in legs, and feeling unsteady and unsure of myself when on my feet. Does anyone else experience this?

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@mjb24 @legacygsh1 I am just about to finish treatment for my cavitary MAC infection - 13 months on Big 3 with Arikayce (though had to stop Arikayce in July due to ototoxicity concerns). About a month ago my shoulder started bothering me. A lot of pain, especially with internal and external rotation. I raised with my ID doctor and she thought unrelated to treatment, something mechanical. I am scheduled to see a PT soon. But these recent posts are interesting to me as I too have been exercising less robustly due to significant fatigue from the drugs. Maybe it is the de-conditioning that can come with treatment that plays a part. My ID doctor commented that the joint and muscle pain that is associated with the antibiotics in her experience is more generalized. But certainly, what you both are describing seems more "generalized" then my shoulder pain so I think it is worth checking in with your care team and seeing what they think about a possible connection. I finish treatment in 9 days so I will certainly respond further if I notice a sharp improvement with my shoulder pain after drug cessation.

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@bayarea58 So happy for you that your treatment is finishing! Regarding your shoulder: Have you ever had "Frozen Shoulder"? I've had it twice in the last dozen years. The symptoms you describe are what I had. I thought maybe I tore my rotator cuff, because of the pain on rotation. It is not an uncommon condition with people who have auto immune issues (which I consider my BE to be).

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