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Ethambutol hydrochloride is a prescription antimycobacterial medicine used against actively growing Mycobacterium organisms, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is used as part of combination tuberculosis therapy and is not used alone for initial treatment or retreatment. Current tablets come in 100 mg and 400 mg strengths.
read more about ethambutol ...Ethambutol enters actively growing Mycobacterium cells and interferes with synthesis of metabolites needed for normal cell activity. This disrupts bacterial metabolism, stops multiplication, and contributes to cell death. Its activity is directed against susceptible mycobacteria rather than viruses, fungi, or common nonmycobacterial pathogens.
Ethambutol is used with other antituberculosis medicines for patients with susceptible tuberculosis. Current labeling does not recommend use in children younger than 13 due difficulty establishing safe visual monitoring. Kidney impairment requires dose adjustment, and baseline eye, kidney, liver, and blood assessments are considered during therapy.
Patients without prior antituberculosis treatment receive 15 mg per kg once every 24 hours. Retreatment starts at 25 mg per kg once daily with at least one other susceptible antituberculosis medicine, then decreases to 15 mg per kg after 60 days. Food does not significantly alter absorption.
Ethambutol can cause optic neuritis with reduced visual acuity, color vision changes, visual field defects, and rare irreversible blindness. Liver toxicity, peripheral neuritis, elevated uric acid, gout, blood-cell abnormalities, and hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported. Monthly eye examinations are advised during daily 25 mg per kg treatment.
No. Current labeling states that ethambutol is used with one or more other antituberculosis medicines.
Patients without previous antituberculosis treatment receive 15 mg per kg once every 24 hours.
Yes. Optic neuritis can reduce visual acuity, alter color vision, and cause visual field changes.
Yes. Reduced kidney function can increase drug accumulation and calls for dose adjustment.
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