The new drug for the treatment of tuberculosis has in its composition four antibiotics used in the treatment of this infection, called Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide and Etambutol.
Although it has been produced in Brazil since 2014 by the Farmanguinhos / Fiocruz institute, in 2018 this medicine started to be made available for free by SUS. One of the treatment facilities is the possibility of taking 4 antibiotics in just one tablet.
This remedy can be used in treatment schemes for pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, lasting several months, and should be guided by the pulmonologist or infectious disease, depending on each case. Find out more details about treatment for tuberculosis.
How it works
The drug for the treatment of tuberculosis has in its composition an association of the following substances:
- Rifampicin; Isoniazid; Pyrazinamide; Ethambutol.
These antibiotics act to fight and eliminate the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis .
The combination of Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol, is usually only necessary in the first 2 months of treatment. However, treatment can vary according to the severity of the disease, if treatment has been carried out before, and according to the person's age and health conditions.
Also check what care should be taken after treatment, to prevent a recurrence.
How to take
The tuberculosis medication should be taken every day, in a single dose, with a little water, preferably 30 minutes before or 2 hours after the meal, according to the doctor's guidance.
The amount of pills used in each dose will vary according to the patient's weight, and is also indicated by the doctor:
| Body weight | Dose |
|---|---|
| 20 - 35 kg | 2 tablets daily |
| 36 - 50 kg | 3 tablets daily |
| Over 50 kg | 4 tablets daily |
For children weighing between 21 and 30 kg, the recommended daily dose is 2 tablets in a single dose. Children and adolescents under 20 kg should not take this medication.
If the dose is missed, the person should take the forgotten pills as soon as he remembers, unless he is close to taking the next dose. In such cases, the missed dose should be skipped. It is necessary to take the medication regularly and never stop the treatment on your own, as resistance to the medication may occur.
Possible side effects
Some of the most common side effects that may occur during treatment with this medication are peripheral neuropathy, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, transient elevation in serum transaminases, increased uric acid, especially in patients with gout, reddish color body fluids and secretions, joint pain, redness, itching and skin rash, visual changes and disorders of the menstrual cycle.
Who should not use
This medication should not be used by people who are hypersensitive to any of the components of the formula, people with liver disease or a history of jaundice and changes in blood levels of liver enzymes caused by antituberculous drugs in the past.
In addition, it should also not be used in people with vision loss because of an optic nerve disorder. If the doctor so wishes, this medication can be used in pregnant women.
The doctor should be informed about any medication that the person is taking. This medicine can reduce the effectiveness of the birth control pill
