Drugs for tuberculosis
Article Abstract:
Selecting the most effective drug treatment for tuberculosis (TB) may become increasingly difficult. TB bacilli often cause infection in the lungs, but also in other parts of the body. Since TB has become more resistant to conventional drug therapy, physicians should closely supervise patients taking a variety of medications. Isoniazid and rifampin are the most effective TB therapies, even for people with some form of drug resistance. Patients who have other health risks and higher drug resistance should take a combination of four drugs, such as isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and either ethambutol or streptomycin. Resistance to several drugs may require combinations of five or more medications, sometimes in the form of injections. Common side effects of TB drugs include massive liver damage, changes in the metabolism, and interference with other medication effects. The higher cost of new preparations like Rifater and Rifamate, containing two or three major TB drugs in one capsule, may be offset by medication errors.
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1995
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Levofloxacin doesn't improve anti-TB efficacy
Article Abstract:
Research has shown that the addition of levofloxacin to an effective tuberculosis (TB) regimen that involves isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, presented no clinical benefit. Although levofloxacin was shown to have greater activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis than ofloxacin, its introduction to the four-drug regimen was found to have no significant effect on patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, who also have active pulmonary TB. Since the early 1990s, however, giant leaps have been made in TB treatment among HIV-infected patients.
Publication Name: World Disease Weekly Plus
Subject: Health
ISSN:
Year: 1998
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Rifapentine -- a long-acting rifamycin for tuberculosis
Article Abstract:
The FDA has approved rifapentine for the treatment of tuberculosis. The drug is sold under the trade name Priftin and is a long-acting form of rifampin. Consequently, it can be given twice a week initially and once a week during maintenance therapy. However, several trials have not shown that rifapentine is more effective than rifampin. For that reason, rifampin should be used until clinical trials have proved the effectiveness of rifapentine.
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1999
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