Treating and Managing Tuberculosis

Key Points:

• Both inactive TB (latent TB) and active TB disease can be treated with medication.
• Medication should be taken as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
• Managing TB with the correct use of treatment will help protect yourself and others.

Drug-Resistant TB Disease

Drug-resistant TB disease occurs when TB germs are resistant to at least one of the most effective TB medicines. There are different types of drug-resistant TB disease, depending on what medicines the TB germs are resistant to. Treating and curing drug-resistant TB disease is complicated, costly and should be treated by a TB medical expert. The best way to prevent drug-resistant TB disease is to take all TB medicine exactly as prescribed.

Medication Side Effects 

Medications taken for inactive TB or active TB disease can cause side effects that are minor or more serious. It’s important to talk to your health care provider about what side effects to expect and what to do if you experience something serious.

Minor Side Effects:

• Skin rash
• Upset stomach or nausea
• Body fluids turn an orange color

Potentially Serious Side Effects:

• Liver injury (abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, skin and eyes turning yellow)
• Dizziness or lightheaded
• Loss of appetite
• Flu-like symptoms
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

Tips for Taking TB Medication

It’s important to continue taking your medication as prescribed for the entire time recommended by your health care provider. If you stop taking the medication too soon, you can become sick again and potentially spread the disease to others.

Establishing a routine can help ensure that you are taking your TB medication as directed. Here are some ways to help you remember to take your TB medicine:

• Take your medicine at the same time every day.
• Set an alarm for the time that you need to take the medication.
• Create a note and leave it in a common place like your bathroom mirror or refrigerator.
• Mark when the medicine has been taken on a calendar.
• Use a weekly pill dispenser that has a section for each day of the week.
• Ask someone close to you to check in daily to make sure you have taken your medicine.
• Ask your healthcare provider what you should do if you forget to take your medicine.

Preventing the Spread of TB

If you have active TB disease, it will take a few weeks of treatment before you can't spread TB bacteria to others. Until your healthcare provider tells you to go back to your daily routine, here are ways to protect yourself and others near you:

• Take your medicine exactly as the healthcare provider directed.
• Cover your cough, sneeze or laugh with a tissue and then place the tissue in a closed bag and throw it away.
• Do not go to work or school until your healthcare provider says it's okay.
• Avoid close contact with anyone, including sleeping.
• Air out your room often so the TB germs don't stay in the room and infect someone else.