Tuberculosis FACT SHEETS

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Treatment of active TB disease

Can active TB disease be cured?

YES! Antibiotic drugs have cured thousands of people with active tuberculosis (TB) disease in Canada. The most common TB drugs are:

• Isoniazid (INH)
• Rifampin (RMP)
• Pyrazinamide (PZA)
• Ethambutol (EMB)

Your doctor will decide which TB drugs are best for you. TB drugs must be taken for at least six months to kill all the TB germs (bacteria). It is very important that you take your TB drugs as your doctor recommends.

Are TB drugs safe?

Drugs used to treat active TB diseaseare relatively safe. Sometimes the drugs may cause side effects. Some side effects are minor. Others are more serious.

Talk to your doctor immediately if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• skin rash
• itching
• yellowish skin or eyes
• brown or very dark urine
• loss of appetite
• nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• bleeding easily
• flu-like symptoms
• dizziness
• ringing in the ears
• fever for three days or more
• sore joints
• psychotic thinking (feeling out of touch with reality)
• memory problems
• blurred or changed vision
• tingling fingers or toes
• tingling or numbness around the mouth

Can I drink alcohol when I’m taking TB drugs?

It is always best not to drink alcohol while you are taking TB drugs.

Previous | Table of Contents | Next