First line antituberculosis antibacterial (bacteriostatic activity)
Indications
Tuberculosis, in combination with other antituberculosis antibacterials
Forms and strengths
100 mg and 400 mg tablets
50 mg and 100 mg dispersible tablets
Dosage
Child and adult: 15 to 25 mg/kg once daily Do not exceed 1200 mg daily.
Patient with renal impairment: 15 to 25 mg/kg 3 times weekly
Duration
According to protocol
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not administer to patients with severe renal impairment or pre-existing optic neuritis (e.g. diabetic retinopathy).
May cause:dose-related retrobulbar optic neuritis, exacerbated in renal impairment. Patients should be warned that they must immediately stop treatment and seek medical attention in the event of visual disturbances such as blurred vision, reduced visual acuity, green-red colour blindness. Visual alterations are usually reversible a few weeks after stopping ethambutol.
The dosage must be carefully adjusted to the body weight, especially for children under 5 years, as it is more difficult to detect visual alterations at this age.
Pregnancy: no contra-indication
Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
For patients sensitive to first-line antituberculosis treatment, ethambutol is given as part of a fixed dose combination.