Ethambutol

For the primary treatment and re-treatment of tuberculosis and for prophylaxis in cases of inactive tuberculosis or large-tuberculin-positive reaction. Ethambutol should only be used in conjunction with other anti-tuberculosis drugs to which the patient’s organisms are susceptible.

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Ethambutol Hydrochloride Tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. It should not be used as the sole antituberculous drug, but should be used in conjunction with at least one other antituberculous drug.

Selection of the companion drug should be based on clinical experience, considerations of comparative safety, and appropriate in vitro susceptibility studies. , initial treatment, the most frequently used regimens have been the following: Ethambutol hydrochloride, USP plus isoniazid Ethambutol hydrochloride, USP plus isoniazid plus streptomycin In patients who have received previous antituberculous therapy, mycobacterial resistance to other drugs used in initial therapy is frequent.

Consequently, in such retreatment patients, ethambutol hydrochloride should be combined with at least one of the second line drugs not previously administered to the patient and to which bacterial susceptibility has been indicated by appropriate in vitro studies.