Pyrazinamide is the first drug that can be given for the treatment of tuberculosis. Pyrazinamide is available by prescription only and the patient must be diagnosed with this condition by a doctor. Children under the age of 18, people with chronic or recurring pulmonary conditions, and people who cannot swallow or break down complex tablets are not eligible for treatment with Pyrazinamide. Children need only take up to four tablets for up to 6 months to cure their tuberculosis. This article has been prepared for carers and parents about how to best use this drug in childhood.
The most common side effects of Pyrazinamide include headache, stomach upsets, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Milder side effects include tiredness, irritability, dizziness, changes in behavior, and lightheadedness. However, these milder side effects do not interfere with normal daily activities and there are no serious side effects while taking pyrazinamide as a first-line treatment for m. tuberculosis. The only serious side effect of treatment with pyrazinamide in the development of kidney disease, where the kidney ceases to function properly.
The long-term effects of Pyrazinamide are not known. There are no studies to indicate how the drug works overtime in patients with chronic diseases. It is also not known if it is more effective or safer than other medications to treat tuberculosis. In the clinical trial of pyrazinamide, there was a higher success rate at treating acute infectious mononucleosis (the infection causing the disease) and less success at treating patients who had neither active tuberculosis nor any other significant illness. This was the only significant difference in the trial. These results are important because most people with acute infectious mononucleosis do not respond well to the treatment with pyrazinamide and it is unclear whether the drug works better or worse in these cases.
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