Bacbutol: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

Use

What is bacbutol used for?

Bacbutol is a drinking tablet containing the active ingredient ethambutol. Ethambutol is an antibiotic that functions to stop the growth of bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Therefore, Bacbutol is used as a drug in the treatment of TB patients. Not only to treat bacterial infections, this drug also serves to prevent the spread of TB bacteria to other people. This drug is usually used as an adjunct drug or a companion drug in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

This medicine is a prescription drug so you must get a prescription from your doctor if you want to use this drug.

How do you use bacbutol?

This drug is used in the following ways:

• You may take this drug on an empty stomach or have a food filled. However, this drug can cause stomach pain. Therefore, it is better to consume it after eating.
• If you are also taking an antacid while taking this medication, take bacbutol 4 hours before you take the antacid.
• The dose given by your doctor is based on your age, weight, health condition, and your response to treatment.
• To get the maximum benefit, take this drug at appropriate intervals. So that you don't easily forget to take this drug, take this drug at the same time every day.
• Keep using this medicine until the time of use specified by the doctor runs out. Do not stop using this drug even if you feel your condition is much better as this will return your illness to normal.
• Have regular blood checks with your doctor.
• Take an eye test that has been instructed by your doctor.
• Do not miss the dose of drug use.

How to store bacbutol?

Bacbutol is stored as follows:

• Do not put this medication in a damp place.
• Do not also place it in a place that is easily exposed to direct light or sunlight.
• This drug should be placed at room temperature.
• Avoid putting this drug in the bathroom, because the bathroom is a damp place.
• Do not also store and freeze in the freezer.
• Keep this medication out of reach of children and pets.
• Not all ethambutol has the same storage rules for the drug, it may be that other brands of this drug have different storage methods.

If this drug is no longer used, do the following to get rid of the drug:

• Do not throw this medication in drains or in toilets.
• If you do not know how to dispose of this medicine, ask your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency who knows better and more safe ways to dispose of medicinal waste.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of bacbutol for adults?

Adult dosage for active tuberculosis

Patients who have never had previous treatment: 15 milligrams (mg) / kilogram (kg) of body weight orally once a day.

Patients who have had previous treatment:

• Initial dose: 25 mg / kg body weight orally once a day and done for 2 months (60 days).
• Maintenance dose: 15 mg / kg of body weight orally once a day.

What is the dose of bacbutol for children?

Children's dosage for active tuberculosis

For adolescents aged 13 years and over who have never had previous treatment: 15 mg / kg of body weight orally once daily

For teens who have had previous treatment:

• Initial dose: 25 mg / kg body weight orally once a day for 60 days.
• Maintenance dose: 15 mg / kg of body weight orally once a day.

In what dosage is bacbutol available?

Tablets: 250 mg, 500 mg

Side effects

What side effects may occur if you take bacbutol?

There are several side effects of this TB medicine that are common and not too worrying. This means that these side effects will disappear on their own, such as:

• Loss of appetite
• Stomach hurts
• Gag
• Numb hands and feet

However, if the above side effects don't go away and they get worse, you may have to contact your doctor. Meanwhile, other side effects that are quite dangerous and may appear are as follows:

• Blurred eyesight
• Inability to see red and green
• There is a change in your eye view
• Skin rash
• Skin feels itchy
• Hallucinating
• Swelling
• Fever or body chills
• Sore throat

Warnings & Precautions

What should be known before using bacbutol?

Things you should do before using bacbutol include:

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to bacbutol or its main active ingredient, ethambutol, and any of the ingredients in the medicine. If you don't know what these other ingredients are, ask your pharmacist or read on the drug packaging.
• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to other medicines, foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.
• Tell your doctor if your eyes are swollen.
• Tell your doctor if there are changes in your eye view.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, joint inflammation due to high uric acid levels (gouty arthritis) or eye diseases such as cataracts.
• Do not give this medicine to children under 13 years of age.

Is bacbutol safe to use for pregnant and lactating women?

These drugs are included in pregnancy risk category C by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) in Indonesia. The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A: No risk,
• B: No risk in some studies,
• C: May be risky,
• D: There is positive evidence of risk,
• X: Contraindicated,
• N: Not known

Meanwhile, it is still not known whether this drug will come out of breast milk (ASI). If you are going to use it, make sure that you have discussed with your doctor the benefits and risks of using the drug.

Interaction

What medicines can interact with bacbutol?

There are 103 other drugs that can interact with bacbutol. However, among these are the types of drugs that should be avoided for use with bacbutol.

This is because the possible interactions between bacbutol and this drug can increase the risk of drug side effects or change the way the drug works. These drugs are:

• bcg
• cholera vaccine
• leflunomide
• lomitapide
• mipomersen
• teriflunomide
• typhoid vaccine
• vigabatrin

What foods and alcohol can interact with bacbutol?

It is not certain whether there are certain foods that can interact with bacbutol. However, eat healthy foods and avoid consuming too much alcohol as this may cause interactions with bacbutol when consumed.

What health conditions can interact with bacbutol?

Bacbutol can interact with health conditions in your body. There are four types of health conditions that may interact, including:

• Optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve or eye nerve.
• Liver disorders
• Kidney failure
• Hyperuricemia, which is a condition in which the patient has excess uric acid levels in the blood.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose of medicine?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it turns out that when you are about to take the missed dose, it is time to tell you to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your usual dosing schedule. Do not double your dose of medication without your doctor's knowledge and permission.