Diffuse Muscle Weakness

Your medication could be contributing to or causing your weakness. But don't make any changes to your medicines without your doctor's approval; instead, talk to him or her about your symptoms and about the possibility that your medication is the cause.

Next, it's important to consider common hormonal or metabolic causes of muscle weakness; examples include thyroid disorders, too much or too little calcium in the blood, and excessive cortisol (a hormone produced by the adrenal gland).

Do you have one or more of the following symptoms?

- Recent onset of dry skin, a hoarse voice, intolerance of cold temperature, constipation (common symptoms of an underactive thyroid)

- Loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, frequent urination, increased thirst (common symptoms of high blood calcium)

- Muscle cramps, spasms or twitching, numbness, tingling, feeling irritable (common symptoms of low blood calcium)

- Unexplained weight gain, puffy face, acne, purple lines on the abdomen or thighs (common symptoms of high cortisol)

Yes, I have noticed some of those symptoms!

No, none of that sounds familiar.