MEDICAL MATTERS

  • Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
  • Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
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Questions in the Category: Angina

Treatments: Drugs – Sensitivities & Side-effects

ME Essential Autumn 2018

This is more of a warning than a question. Earlier this year I experienced a rapid and noticeable deterioration in the fatigue part of my ME/CFS. I was also getting muscle cramps – a new symptom to add to the list. All of this coincided with a prescription from my doctor for water losing tablets (diuretics) to treat high blood pressure. At first, she didn’t think there was any connection. But after doing some blood tests it turned out that I had a low level of potassium – something that can occur as a side-effect of using this type of drug. After a change in medication, my potassium level returned to normal and my ME/CFS symptoms also improved. So it’s worth noting that drugs can sometimes cause a significant exacerbation of symptoms for people with ME/CFS.

Charles Shepherd

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