Case Report: Rhabdomyolysis following initiation of tirzepatide

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Published
2025-08-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1660785
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Muscle and Compartmental Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.01
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article

Case Report: Rhabdomyolysis following initiation of tirzepatide

Carlos Fritzsche, Micha Loebermann, Jonas Michael Bodanowitz, Isabell Mattes
2 citations
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Muscle and Compartmental Disorders
4.01
article

Case Report: Rhabdomyolysis following initiation of tirzepatide

Carlos Fritzsche, Micha Loebermann, Jonas Michael Bodanowitz, Isabell Mattes
article en
2 citations

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.

Frontiers in PharmacologyVol. 16
University of Rostock (DE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Muscle and Compartmental Disorders
4.01
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