Tuberculosis (TB) medications can cause a wide range of side effects, affecting various organs and systems. The severity and type of side effects depend on the specific drugs used and individual patient factors[1].
Common short-term side effects of TB medication include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain or stomach upset
- Dizziness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Pins and needles sensation in hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
- Skin rash or itchiness
- Vision changes
- Orange discoloration of urine, sweat, or tears (especially with rifampin)
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes, indicating possible liver issues)
These effects can last from a few weeks to throughout the treatment, which commonly lasts six months or more[2][3][4][5].
Potentially serious side effects (requiring immediate medical attention):
- Hepatic toxicity (liver injury): abdominal pain, brown urine, light-colored stool, persistent fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice
- Eye damage (especially from ethambutol): blurred or changed vision, color vision changes
- Peripheral neuropathy: numbness or tingling in hands and feet (commonly from isoniazid)
- Bleeding problems: easy bruising, slow blood clotting (associated with rifampin/rifapentine)
- Allergic reactions: skin rash, hives, swelling
- Psychological effects: depression, anxiety, insomnia (in rare cases)
- Hearing loss (especially with some drugs for drug-resistant TB)
Special care is needed for people with existing liver or kidney conditions, older adults, people living with HIV, or those on other medications due to increased risk of interactions and complications[1][2][3][4][5][6].
Long-term side effects may include:
- Disturbance of gut microbiota, which can cause ongoing GI symptoms (e.g., diarrhea, constipation) and may contribute to other health concerns such as high cholesterol, insulin resistance, or obesity
- Lung dysfunction (in rare cases)
- Depression, anxiety, or insomnia
Working with a healthcare provider can help manage these side effects, sometimes by adjusting medication, providing supportive care, or prescribing additional treatments such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6) to prevent nerve damage[2][5].
References
- [1] Adverse Events During TB Treatment | Tuberculosis (TB) – CDC
- [2] What are the side effects of TB medication? – Medical News Today
- [3] Side effects – TB Alert
- [4] Rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide (oral route) – Mayo Clinic
- [5] Isoniazid (oral route, intramuscular route) – Side effects & Information – Mayo Clinic
- [6] Nursing Guide for Managing Side Effects to Drug-resistant TB Treatment – Curry International TB Center
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