Alcoholic Myopathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Excessive alcohol consumption and addiction can profoundly affect your health and overall quality of life in numerous ways. Addiction can hinder your ability to maintain normal daily activities, engage socially, or excel in work or academic settings. Moreover, it heightens the risk of developing serious conditions such as cancer, pancreatitis, dementia, liver disease, and heart disease.

Alcohol misuse can also lead to alcoholic myopathy, a disorder that impacts muscle function and structure in various ways. Even in the absence of myopathy, alcohol can still detrimentally affect muscle integrity and strength.

How Does Alcohol Impact Muscles?

Prolonged alcohol use can result in muscle weakness or discomfort. The muscle-related effects of alcohol are especially noticeable following episodes of binge drinking, though these symptoms can subside quickly once alcohol consumption ceases. Key ways alcohol affects muscles include:

Dehydration from Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol intake causes the body to lose more fluids than it retains, leading to dehydration each time you drink. Proper hydration is crucial for muscle health as it ensures muscles function smoothly and recover efficiently. Dehydration can weaken muscles, increase soreness, and hinder physical activity, making it challenging to maintain good physical condition.

Inflammation Induced by Alcohol

The body recognizes alcohol as a foreign, toxic substance and responds by initiating inflammation, which can result in organ damage. Chronic heavy drinking leads to persistent inflammation affecting the muscles, causing pain and soreness that may discourage physical activity and contribute to further muscle deterioration.

Impaired Muscle Growth and Recovery

Alcohol significantly disrupts the body’s ability to build and repair muscle tissue, creating an imbalance that hinders muscle growth and slows recovery. This impairment is particularly concerning for individuals who exercise regularly, as muscle strengthening relies on the ability to heal and grow after exertion. Delayed healing makes workouts less effective and prolongs recovery periods.

Body Aches Caused by Alcohol

Alcohol can lead to muscle soreness and generalized body aches. Chronic use alters metabolism, resulting in the accumulation of lactic acid—a chemical that naturally builds up in muscles during exercise and causes soreness. When alcohol consumption leads to excessive lactic acid buildup, it can cause muscle soreness akin to post-exercise discomfort, even without any physical activity.

What Is Alcoholic Myopathy?

Alcoholic myopathy is a condition characterized by increased muscle weakness and alterations in muscle structure, resulting in smaller and less functional muscles. Approximately half of all individuals with alcohol use disorder develop some form of myopathy due to their drinking habits. Additionally, alcoholic myopathy can primarily affect the heart muscle, a condition known as cardiomyopathy.

While alcoholic myopathy is common among heavy drinkers, it typically resolves on its own once alcohol consumption stops. However, there are treatment options available for those who develop myopathy.

Acute Alcoholic Myopathy

Acute alcoholic myopathy arises from a single episode of excessive alcohol use over a short period. Although it can occur in chronic drinkers, it is specifically linked to an episode of heavy drinking rather than long-term use. This acute form is most frequently seen after binge drinking and generally resolves within a few days to a couple of weeks once alcohol use ceases.

Chronic Alcoholic Myopathy

Chronic alcoholic myopathy is associated with long-term alcohol use and is not tied to a single drinking episode. This form is typically experienced by individuals who consume large amounts of alcohol regularly. Chronic myopathy develops more gradually than the acute form and takes longer to improve after stopping alcohol use, potentially lasting several weeks to up to 12 months.

Symptoms of Alcoholic Myopathy

Diagnosing alcoholic myopathy requires a medical evaluation, but it is often identifiable by its characteristic symptoms related to muscle atrophy and weakness. Additional, less obvious symptoms may include:

• Numbness or pain in the arms and legs
• A “pins and needles” sensation
• Muscle weakness, cramps, aches, contractions, or spasms
• Difficulty tolerating heat
• Urinary issues such as trouble starting, incomplete bladder emptying, or incontinence
• Gastrointestinal problems like constipation or diarrhea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Impotence in men

Symptoms typically affect both sides of the body equally and are more common in the legs. They usually develop gradually and worsen over time, although they can also appear suddenly after heavy drinking.

Alcoholic Myopathy and Heart Health

Excessive alcohol consumption can also damage the heart, leading to a weakened heart muscle or cardiomyopathy. In cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle undergoes changes that impair its ability to pump blood effectively throughout the body. Untreated, this condition can result in poor circulation and eventually lead to heart failure.

Indicators of cardiomyopathy include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Unusual fatigue
• Swelling in the legs and feet
• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

Immediate medical attention is essential if you experience any symptoms of alcoholic myopathy or cardiomyopathy.

How Does Alcoholism Lead to Myopathy?

Both alcohol and acetaldehyde—the byproduct produced when the liver metabolizes alcohol—interfere with the body’s ability to produce new muscle proteins, potentially leading to a loss of up to 30% of muscle mass.

Individuals with alcoholic myopathy often suffer from vitamin E deficiencies, as alcohol depletes carotenoids (precursors to vitamin E) in the liver. Vitamin E is vital for muscle cell recovery, and its deficiency reduces muscle protection.

Poor nutrition frequently accompanies alcoholism, as alcohol often replaces food in the diet and hampers the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, further compromising muscle health.

Does Alcoholic Myopathy Resolve on Its Own?

Alcoholic myopathy generally improves once alcohol consumption stops. Acute alcoholic myopathy can resolve within a few days, and symptoms are unlikely to persist beyond two weeks. Chronic alcoholic myopathy, however, may take between two to twelve months to fully resolve. While medical treatment isn’t always necessary for chronic cases, it can help alleviate symptoms more rapidly.

Treatment for Alcoholic Myopathy

Addressing alcoholic myopathy begins with ceasing alcohol use. The initial detoxification period typically lasts one to two weeks and can be managed in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. Achieving sobriety is the crucial first step toward recovery.

Additional treatment strategies include:

• Balanced Diet: Ensure your diet includes foods rich in vitamin E (such as sunflower seeds, almonds, cooked spinach, and canned pumpkin) and vitamin B (like beans, poultry, fish, and soy products).
• Supplementation: Consult your doctor about adding magnesium, calcium, and carnitine supplements to support muscle health.
• Physical Therapy and Exercise: Engage in physical therapy or regular exercise to aid muscle recovery and improve overall strength.

Although alcoholic myopathy is a common consequence of heavy drinking that can impair your quality of life, recognizing the symptoms and seeking treatment can effectively manage and reverse the condition.

Get the Support You or Your Loved One Needs

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol use despite experiencing health issues like alcoholic myopathy, The Recovery Village Salem is here to help. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be showing signs of alcohol addiction, you can learn more about the warning indicators by taking one of our free alcohol self-assessments:

• CAGE Alcohol Assessment
• MAST Alcohol Assessment
• AUDIT Alcohol Assessment

The Recovery Village Salem is dedicated to assisting Oregon residents in achieving lasting recovery from alcohol abuse and addiction. Reach out to one of our compassionate representatives today to discover how our alcohol rehab programs can benefit you or your loved one.