ETHIONAMIDE

Brand & Generic Names

Trecator-SC

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antimycobacterial (antituberculosis)

Uses

Treats tuberculosis. Used in combination with other antituberculosis drugs such as isoniazid, streptomycin, rifampin, ethambutol.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablets: Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
Usually every 8 to 12 hours, with or after meals.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose. Don't double this dose.

What drug does:
Kills germs that cause tuberculosis.

Time lapse before drug works:
Within 3 hours.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

• Vomiting.
• Dizziness, sore mouth, nausea, metallic taste.

Infrequent:

Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin); numbness, tingling, pain in hands or feet; depression; confusion.

Rare:

• Hunger, shakiness, rapid heartbeat; blurred vision; vision changes; skin rash.
• Gradual swelling in the neck (thyroid gland).
• Enlargement of breasts (male).

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You know you are hypersensitive to ethionamide.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have diabetes mellitus.
• If you have liver disease.

Over age 60:
No information available.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs possible benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Effect not documented. Consult your family doctor or pediatrician.

Infants & children:
Effect not documented. Consult your family doctor or pediatrician.

Prolonged use:
No special problems expected.

Skin & sunlight:
No special problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor.

Others:

• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.
• Request occasional laboratory studies for liver function.
• Request occasional eye examinations.
• Treatment may take months or years.
• You should take pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) supplements while taking ethionamide.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME OR	COMBINED EFFECT
-------------------------	-----------------------
Cycloserine	Increased risk of seizures.
Pyridoxine	Increased excretion by kidney.
	(Should take pyridoxine supplements
	while on ethionamide to prevent
	development of neuritis in feet
	and hands).

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Increased incidence of liver diseases.
Any alcoholic beverage.	Increased incidence of liver diseases.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	No interaction expected, but may
	slow body's recovery.
Tobacco:	No interaction expected, but may
	slow body's recovery.