Myambutol

Myambutol is used for treating tuberculosis (TB) infections of the lung along with other medicines. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ethambutol, the following should be considered:

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ethambutol. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnant women with tuberculosis (TB) should be treated with TB medicines, including ethambutol. Ethambutol has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that ethambutol causes cleft palate, skull and spine defects, absence of one eye, and hare lip.

Ethambutol passes into breast milk. However, ethambutol has not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies.

This medicine has been tested in children 13 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. Ethambutol may be used for children with TB when other medicines cannot be used. However, ethambutol is usually not used in children up to 6 years of age because it may be hard to tell if they are having side effects affecting their eyes.

Myambutol

Myambutol can be generically prescribed as ethambutol and is often used for in the treatments of tuberculosis. Myambutol is an effective antibiotic for the treatment of tuberculosis as it prevents the tuberculosis bacteria from reproducing or growing in the body, allowing patients to heal from the infection. Myambutol should be taken for the entire length of the prescription to be sure that the infection has cleared up completely. While Myambutol is most effective on the tuberculosis bacteria, this medication can sometimes be used for other bacterial infections.

Myambutol is not appropriate for all patients and patients with a medical history which includes cataracts, kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, or optic neuritis may not tolerate Myambutol well. A thorough medical assessment prior to prescribing this medication may prevent serious reactions in people with a compromised medical history.

Myambutol has not undergone testing to determine its effects on an unborn baby. Myambutol should be avoided in women who are pregnant or nursing.

Overdose

Myambutol should be taken exactly as it has been prescribed, as taking too much of Myambutol or taking doses close together may lead to an overdose. An overdose of Myambutol requires emergency medical treatment and may present with symptoms which include possible disorientation, heart rhythm problems, and other unknown complications. If the patient misses a dose of Myambutol they should simply take it when remembered provided it is not nearing time for the next scheduled dose. If taking the medication places the doses too close together, the missed dose should be skipped to avoid the potential for an overdose. Missing too many doses is likely to result in a return of the infection.

STORAGE:

Store at room temperature at 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.