TB medicines: what does each of the four do — and what does it do to you?
Four drugs for two months, then two for four more. Each has its own warning.
Select any card for the reasoning, what to watch for and an exam tip.
First-line TB medicines
Key points
- Standard treatment: rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for 2 months, then rifampicin and isoniazid for 4 months.
- Fixed-dose combination tablets and daily dosing are used, under specialist care.
- Treatment starts without waiting for culture results if the signs fit TB.
- Pyridoxine goes with isoniazid for every patient, from the start.
Key takeaway
Rifampicin turns fluids orange and speeds up other drugs, isoniazid needs pyridoxine, pyrazinamide can bring on gout, and ethambutol needs an eye check first.