Ethambutol (By mouth)
eth-AM-bue-tol
Treats tuberculosis (TB).
Drug classes
Antitubercular (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Ethambutol is used to treat tuberculosis (TB). It is used with other medicines for TB. This medicine may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor.
To help clear up your tuberculosis (TB) infection completely, you must keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better. This is very important. It is also important that you do not miss any doses.
Ethambutol is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, ethambutol is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
Atypical mycobacterial infections, such as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take and how often.
Ethambutol can be taken with food to avoid stomach upset.
Take this medicine on a regular schedule. Keep taking it even if you are feeling better. Your doctor will tell you when you can stop taking it.
If a dose is missed:
Take the missed dose as soon as possible.
Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next regular dose.
You should not use two doses at the same time.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store at room temperature and protect from direct heat, moisture, and light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ethambutol or if you have damaged eye nerves (optic neuritis).
Warnings
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
Check with your doctor before taking ethambutol if you have gout, kidney disease, or liver disease.
This medicine may cause blurred vision. If it does, avoid driving or using dangerous machinery.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Any vision changes such as blurring, color blindness, trouble seeing
Eye pain
Swelling of face, lips, throat
Wheezing or trouble breathing
Numbness, pain, or tingling in hands or feet
Joint pain
Fever or chills
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Stomach pain
Dizziness
Poor appetite
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Myambutol
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
