Rhabdomyolysis
Treatment
Seek treatment as soon as you suspect rhabdo! If treated early, most rhabdo patients return to work in a few days without any lasting effects. Treatment options depend on how severe the rhabdo is. Only a healthcare provider can determine how severe it is through blood tests, electrocardiograms (also known as EKGs), etc.
Less severe cases can be treated with:
- Drinking fluids
- Getting out of the heat
- Resting
Moderate to severe cases may need intravenous (IV) fluids and hospital admission.
- IV fluids help flush out the muscle proteins and electrolytes. IV fluids can prevent dangerous heart rhythms and loss of kidney function.
- At a hospital, medical professionals can monitor and treat severe cases for:
- abnormal heart rhythms
- decreased kidney function
- seizures
- elevated compartment pressures
- high potassium levels

People often need IV fluids to treat rhabdo and prevent serious complications.