Treatment of tuberculosis is quite standard. Sadly since the earlier version of this website (2001) litte has changed
You'll be prescribed at least a 6-month course of a combination of antibiotics if you're diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, where your lungs are affected and you have symptoms.
The usual treatment is:
2 antibiotics (isoniazid and rifampicin) for 6 months
2 additional medication (pyrazinamide and ethambutol) for the first 2 months of the 6-month treatment period
It may be several weeks before you start to feel better. The exact length of time will depend on your overall health and the severity of your TB.
After taking antibiotics for 2 weeks, most people are no longer infectious and feel better.
However, it's important to continue taking your medicine exactly as prescribed and to complete the whole course of antibiotics.
Taking medication for 6 months is the best way to ensure the TB bacteria are killed.
If you stop taking your antibiotics before you complete the course or you skip a dose, the TB infection may become resistant to the antibiotics.
This is potentially serious because it can be difficult to treat and will require a longer course of treatment with different, and possibly more toxic, therapies.
If you find it difficult to take your medicine every day, your treatment team can work with you to find a solution.
This may include having regular contact with your treatment team at home, at the treatment clinic, or somewhere else that's more convenient.
If treatment is completed correctly, you should not need any further checks by a TB specialist afterwards. You may be given advice about spotting signs that the illness has returned, although this is rare.
NOTE: Some types of TB may require a nine month regimen of medication including taking of Ethambutol for the hole period
FOR TUBERCULOSIS MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO PLEASE READ: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN TAKING TB MEDS
Main drugs used in treatment of tuberculosis
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