Fiambutol L400mg

• Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Used for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Should not be used as the sole antituberculous drug, but should be used in conjunction with at least one other antituberculous drug.
• Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis: Used for the treatment of tuberculosis outside the lungs.

Adult Dose (Oral):

• Initial treatment (no prior therapy): 15 mg/kg/day or 30 mg/kg thrice weekly (with isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide).
• Retreatment (history of antimycobacterial therapy): Initial: 25 mg/kg/day for 60 days, then reduce to 15 mg/kg/day.

Child Dose: 15-25 mg/kg, max 2.5 g q24h; Drug-resistant TB: 15-25 mg/kg daily or 50 mg/kg twice weekly.

Renal Dose: Dose adjustment may be needed as determined by blood levels.

Common Side Effects:

• Visual impairment
• Color blindness (green-red color blindness)
• Retrobulbar neuritis
• Constriction of visual field
• Central or peripheral scotoma

Other Side Effects:

• Confusion, disorientation, hallucinations
• Headache, dizziness, malaise
• Jaundice or transient liver dysfunction
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Thrombocytopenia
• GI disturbances (nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain)
• Allergic reactions (rash, pruritus, fever)

Precautions:

• Ethambutol may cause sight problems and tingling or numbness in hand or feet; do not drive until you know how it affects you.
• It has to be taken for several months in order for it work properly (usually 6 months).
• Take with food to avoid stomach upset.
• Can lower blood sugar; monitor blood sugar regularly if diabetic.
• Your doctor may monitor liver function, vision and thyroid function.
• Do not stop taking even if you start to feel better (early stopping can lead to treatment failure and drug-resistant TB).
• Caution in patients with ocular defects, renal impairment.