Details

Ethambutol is an antibiotic that prevents growth of the tuberculous bacteria in the body. Ethambutol is used to treat tuberculosis (TB), and is usually given together with at least one other tuberculosis medicine. To make sure ethambutol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have inflammatory eye disorders such as uveitis or iritis eye problems caused by diabetes cataracts liver disease kidney disease or gout. Ethambutol can cause vision problems that may be a sign that you should stop taking the medicine. Ethambutol should not be given to a child younger than 13 years old.

Typical Uses

Ethambutol is used with other medications to treat tuberculosis (TB). Ethambutol is an antibiotic and works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness. Ethambutol may also be used with other medications to help treat a certain serious infection (Mycobacterium avium complex-MAC). It may also be used with other medications to prevent the MAC infection from occurring again in people with advanced HIV disease.

Side Effects

Ethambutol can cause serious vision problems, including vision loss that may be permanent. Stop using ethambutol and inform your doctor immediately if you have any problems with one or both of your eyes, such as blurred vision or trouble focusing loss of vision in one eye that lasts an hour or longer increased sensitivity of your eyes to light loss of colour vision or pain with eye movement, pain behind your eyes. Other side effects of ethambutol include new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing numbness of tingling in your hands or feet confusion, hallucinations fever, swollen glands, painful mouth sores, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, general ill feeling easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums) chest pain or shortness of breath with mild exertion little or no urinating.

Drug Interactions

• Ethambutol+BCG- Using ethambutol and BCG is not recommended. Call your doctor if you notice that BCG is not working or if your condition worsens. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs.

• Ethambutol+leflunomide- Leflunomide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as ethambutol may increase that risk. Because leflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications.

• Ethambutol+lomitapide- Lomitapide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as ethambutol may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.

• Ethambutol+mipomersen- Mipomersen may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as ethambutol may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.

• Ethambutol+teriflunomide- Teriflunomide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as ethambutol may increase that risk. Because teriflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications.

Mechanism of action

Ethambutol belongs to a class of anti-tuberculosis drugs. It suppresses the growth of tuberculosis causing bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Ethambutol enters the growing bacteria and kills the bacteria by inhibiting an important enzyme arabinosyl tranferases involved in the formation of the outer protective covering of the bacteria called cell wall.

Pregnancy Category : C