Introduction: Prescription drug abuse is a major health problem across the globe. Various complications associated with repeated injection of pentazocine are reported in the literature, including skin fibrosis, skin abscesses and ulceration, abnormal skin pigmentation and fibrous myopathy.
Case report: We present a case of 48 year male with history of pentazocine abuse. Patient developed multiple abscesses in both lower limbs with polymicrobial infection, one of them being mycobacterium tuberculosis. He also developed fibrous myopathy leading to stiff hip and knee.
Conclusion: This case highlights the significance of the precaution that should be taken when prescribing opioid analgesics, such as pentazocine, as routine painkillers. With free over the counter access to these drugs in India and many developing countries, awareness of this complication is important so that unwanted side effects can be avoided.
Keywords: Fibrous myopathy; Multiple skin abscesses; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pentazocine.