The treatment of tuberculosis requires the use of multiple drugs for
prolonged periods, and most patients will, at some time, experience some difficulty
tolerating them. In general, it is considered that there is an underestimation of the
frequency of adverse effects during the treatment of tuberculosis. Although treatment
of drug-sensitive disease with first-line drugs is usually well-tolerated, treatment of
multidrug-resistant disease (MDR-TB) requires the use of drugs known as “secondline”
drugs, which are associated with a higher frequency and severity of adverse
reactions to antituberculosis drugs.
Since it is impossible to predict the response of a given patient, the use of a drug should
not be avoided in advance, for fear of an adverse reaction. There are factors that
influence the development of adverse reactions, including errors in the dosage of
medications, genetic factors, the age of the subject (more frequent in patients older than
60 years), consumption of alcohol and illicit substances, renal failure or hepatic
disease, and co-infection with HIV.
Everything possible must be done to facilitate tolerance to medicines; patients must be
assured that, while side effects are inevitable, they will be treated as vigorously as
possible.
This chapter discusses the adverse effects of antituberculosis drugs on different body
systems and organs.
Keywords: Adverse effects, Antituberculosis, Dosage, Drugs, Hepatotoxicity,
Nephrotoxicity, Neurotoxicity, Stevens-Johnson.Adverse effects, Antituberculosis, Dosage, Drugs, Hepatotoxicity,
Nephrotoxicity, Neurotoxicity, Stevens-Johnson.
