Ethionamide

Generic name: Ethionamide
Dosage form: oral tablet (250 mg)
Drug class: Nicotinic acid derivatives

Usage of Ethionamide

Ethionamide is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Ethionamide is used to treat tuberculosis (TB). Ethionamide must be given in combination with other tuberculosis medications and it should not be used alone.

Ethionamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Ethionamide side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Ethionamide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;

confusion; unusual thoughts or behavior;

eye pain, blurred vision, double vision;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

seizure (convulsions); or

upper stomach pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of ethionamide may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

stomach pain, loss of appetite;

increased salivation, metallic taste in your mouth;

blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;

headache, dizziness; or

drowsiness, depressed mood, restless feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Ethionamide

You should not use ethionamide if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

severe liver disease.

To make sure ethionamide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

vision problems;

diabetes; or

a thyroid disorder.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether ethionamide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using ethionamide.

It is not known whether ethionamide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

Relate drugs

How to use Ethionamide

Usual Adult Dose for Tuberculosis -- Active:

Initial dose regimen: 250 mg orally once a day for 1 to 2 days, then 250 mg orally 2 times a day for 1 to 2 days; the dose should be increased to 1000 mg orally in 3 to 4 divided dosesMaintenance dose: 500 to 1000 mg (OR 15 to 20 mg/kg/day) orally once a dayMaximum dose: 1000 mg/dayComments:-Additional drug/s should be given with this drug to treat patients with susceptible strains of tuberculosis.-Maintenance doses may be administered in divided doses in patients who exhibit poor gastrointestinal tolerance.-Duration of treatment should be based on clinical response, including permanent bacteriological conversion and maximal clinical improvement.Uses:-Treatment of active tuberculosis in patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid or rifampin-Treatment of active tuberculosis in patients infected with M tuberculosis when there is intolerance to other drugs

Usual Pediatric Dose for Tuberculosis -- Active:

10 to 20 mg/kg orally in 2 to 3 divided doses per day (after meals) OR 15 mg/kg orally once a day-Maximum dose: 1000 mg/dayComments:-Additional drug/s should be given with this drug to treat patients with susceptible strains of tuberculosis.-Malabsorption syndrome may occur in patients who adhere to treatment but fail to appropriately respond, and may be present in patients with concurrent HIV infection. Therapeutic drug monitoring should be considered in patients with malabsorption syndrome.-The duration of treatment should be based on clinical response, including permanent bacteriological conversion and maximal clinical improvement.-The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends once a day treatment with isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide for 2 months in patients with meningitis caused by M tuberculosis, and once a day treatment with isoniazid and rifampin for 9 to 12 months in patients with meningitis caused by Mycoplasma bovis.Uses:-Treatment of active tuberculosis in patients with M tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid or rifampin-Treatment of active tuberculosis in patients infected with M tuberculosis when there is intolerance to other drugs

Warnings

You should not use ethionamide if you have severe liver disease.

What other drugs will affect Ethionamide

Other drugs may interact with ethionamide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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