Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet is a prescription antimycobacterial medicine used to treat active tuberculosis (TB) along with other anti-TB medicines. It is also used for certain other mycobacterial infections, especially in people with HIV. It works by stopping TB bacteria from multiplying, and it must always be taken together with at least one other anti-TB medicine.

What is Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet

Ethambutol hydrochloride is a prescription antibacterial medicine approved to treat active tuberculosis (TB). It is also used for certain other mycobacterial infections, especially in people with HIV.

Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet uses

• Treating active tuberculosis (TB), used together with other anti-TB medicines
• Treating Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections and Mycobacterium kansasii infections, particularly in people with HIV
• Preventing disseminated MAC infection from coming back in people with HIV

Benefits of Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet

• Helps clear up tuberculosis infection when taken with other TB medicines
• Stops bacteria from multiplying so the immune system can fight the infection
• Reduces the chance of the infection spreading to others

How Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet works

Ethambutol gets into actively growing TB bacteria and blocks the building of their cell walls, which stops the bacteria from multiplying and eventually kills them.

Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet dosage

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you, at the same time each day. It is important to complete the full course of treatment, even if you start to feel better, so the infection is fully treated and the bacteria don't become resistant. Do not skip doses. You may need to take this medicine every day for one to two years or longer, depending on your condition.

Ethambutol can be taken with or without food; taking it with food may help if it upsets your stomach. Do not take aluminum-containing antacids within 4 hours of taking this medicine, as they can reduce how much of the drug your body absorbs. This medicine must be taken together with at least one other anti-TB medicine, not on its own.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember; if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal schedule — do not double up. This medicine is usually not used in children younger than 13 years because it can be hard to tell if young children are having eye-related side effects.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablet

Common

• Mild upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Headache or dizziness
• Joint pain or elevated uric acid (gout-like symptoms)
• Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the hands or feet
• Chills
• Fever
• Confusion
• Abdominal pain

Serious

• Vision changes such as blurred vision, blind spots, reduced visual sharpness, or loss of red-green color discrimination (optic neuritis), which can sometimes be permanent if not caught early
• Liver damage, with symptoms like yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, persistent nausea, and severe tiredness
• Severe allergic reactions, including skin rash, hives, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat
• Joint pain and swelling, especially in the big toe, ankle, or knee, with hot, tense skin over the joint

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause vision problems, including decreased visual sharpness, due to damage to the optic nerve. This is usually linked to the dose and how long you take the medicine, and it often improves if the medicine is stopped right away, but permanent blindness has been reported in some cases.
• This medicine should never be used as the only drug for TB treatment — it must always be combined with at least one other anti-TB medicine.
• Do not use this medicine if you have known optic neuritis unless your doctor decides it's necessary, or if you cannot report vision changes yourself (for example, very young children or unconscious patients).
• This medicine is not recommended for children younger than 13 years because its safety has not been established in that age group.
• This medicine can cause or worsen gout attacks by raising uric acid levels in the blood.
• This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy unless it is absolutely necessary. 
• There have been reports of eye problems in babies born to mothers who took anti-TB treatment that included this medicine. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits before taking it.
• This medicine passes into breast milk. It should only be used while breastfeeding if your doctor decides it is clearly needed, weighing the benefits against possible risks to the baby.
• People with kidney problems may need a lower dose because the medicine is mainly removed from the body through the kidneys, and it can build up if kidney function is poor.
• This medicine can cause liver damage, including rare fatal cases. Your doctor should check your liver function before you start treatment and periodically while you are taking it.
• It isn't clear how this medicine interacts with alcohol, so check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking it.
• Make sure you know how this medicine affects you before driving, using machines, or doing anything that could be dangerous if you are not alert or cannot see well, since it can cause vision changes and may cause sleepiness.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light
• Keep from freezing
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed
• Store tablets at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Keep the medicine in the container it came in and keep the container tightly closed
• Do not use the medicine if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing
• Throw away medicine that is no longer needed or expired, following proper disposal guidelines
• Protect from light and moisture

When to see a doctor

• Contact your doctor right away if you notice blurred vision, eye pain, trouble telling red from green, or any loss of vision while taking this medicine.
• Get medical help right away if you develop signs of liver problems, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, ongoing nausea, or severe tiredness.
• Seek immediate care if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as skin rash, hives, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have chills, joint pain and swelling (especially in the big toe, ankle, or knee), or hot, tense skin over a joint.
• If your symptoms do not improve within 2 to 3 weeks of starting treatment, or if they get worse, check with your doctor.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, get emergency medical help or contact your doctor right away.

Alternatives

• Pyrazinamide
• Rifampin
• Isoniazid