All about Tuberculosis (TB) and its treatment
Date issued: June 2026
Review date: June 2028
Leaflet section: Thoracic
PDF: All about Tuberculosis (TB) and its treatment.pdf [pdf] 143KB
TB nursing team
About TB
TB disease: treatment typically takes at least six months and involves taking four antibiotics rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. These medicines may be given as individual pills or as combination tablets Rifater (rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide), or Rifinah (rifampicin and isoniazid).
TB infection: treatment for a TB infection is often shorter and involves fewer antibiotics than treatment for TB disease. Taking your TB treatment Take your medicine regularly and complete the full course. If you stop taking your medication before the course is finished, it could make your illness worse, cause your TB to become resistant to the medication, or increase the risk that you might pass TB to others.
Tips for taking TB treatment take your tablets at the same time every day always keep your tablets in the same place use a weekly pill organiser (a dosette box) ask your pharmacist for details set an alarm to remind you to take your tablets ask a family member or friend to remind you to take your tablets every day try to take your TB medicine at least one hour before you eat food or two hours afterwards you can eat anything you like, but you should avoid drinking alcohol If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose skip the missed one. Never take a double dose.
Treatment side effects
As with all medicines TB treatment can have side effects- some of the most common side effects are highlighted in the table below. Most are mild and resolve in time, though speak to your TB Nurse if these are bothering you as help is often available. The TB team can be contacted on 01752 439948 or plh-tr.tbservice@nhs.net
| Common side effects |
Rifampicin | Isoniazid | Pyrazinamide | Ethambutol | Rifater | Rifinah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea (feeling sick) vomiting and diarrhoea | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, dizziness and joint pain | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Rashes and Itchiness | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tingling or numbness | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Orange staining to tears, saliva and other bodily fluids (may stain contact lenses ) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Menstural disturbances | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Reduces effectiveness of contraceptives such as oral pills, implants or other | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Please tell one of the TB team about any other medication you are taking, including hormonal contraceptives, as these can affect your TB treatment. It's also best to avoid alcohol during treatment because the drugs put extra strain on your liver.
Sometimes side effects can be more serious. Though rare, the medication can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) or affect your vision. If you notice any of these changes, stop taking your TB tablets and speak to one of the TB team immediately so they can help you manage them
Other formats
If you need this leaflet in another format such as Braille, large print, high contrast, British Sign Language or translated into another language, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS):
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01752 439694
