Medication plays a very important in treating tuberculosis (TB). Treating TB takes a long time when compared to other bacterial infections. The most common tuberculosis medications include – isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and rifampin. Usually, a combination of different drugs is used to treat TB as one drug alone may not be effective in eliminating TB bacteria.
Why is it important to regularly take tuberculosis medication?
Sometimes, TB patients stop taking medication as soon as they notice that the symptoms have reduced. This has to be avoided. It takes a long time for completely eliminating TB bacteria from the body. Any deviations in the dosage or intake of tuberculosis medication must be avoided.
TB bacteria may develop resistance to certain medications during the course of treatment. In such case, your doctor would prescribe new medicines or a combination of different drugs.
Always remember to take your medication
Never miss taking your tuberculosis medication due to forgetfulness, negligence or any reason. Your chances of getting well and recovering depend on how regularly you take your medicines. In order to make this easy, you could plan a routine or take help from your doctor, nurse or family members.
Some tips which may help you to remember taking your medication on time are as follows:
- Enroll or take part in the directly observed therapy (DOT) organized by your health department.
- Set timings for taking your pills and follow it.
- Take help from family or friends to remind you about medication in case you have trouble remembering.
- You could also mark days in your calender by crossing each date after taking medicine.
- Make use of a weekly pill dispenser. You could also carry it with you while traveling.
In spite of all the reminders, if you miss a dose, skip it and stick to the routine from the next day. Inform your doctor about the skipped dose and follow the instruction given by your doctor to make amends.
