antibioticsbooks

164 PART 3 Antimycobacterial Drugs
dose and duration of therapy and is generally
reversible; monitoring is required to detect this
problem. Use of ethambutol in children younger
than 5 years old is not recommended, because
they are generally not able to reliably perform the
vision tests needed for monitoring. Rash and drug
fever occur uncommonly.
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Important Facts
• Ethambutol is very well tolerated, and it is one
of the few tuberculosis drugs that is not associated
with hepatotoxicity.
• Ethambutol can be used as a substitute for
rifampin in patients who are unable to take
this medication during the continuation phase
(after two months) of active tuberculosis therapy.
However, the duration of therapy has to
be extended relative to what it would be with
rifampin and isoniazid.
• Ethambutol is one of the primary first-line
drugs (along with a macrolide and rifabutin)
for treating MAC infections.
What It’s Good For
First-line therapy for both active tuberculosis and
MAC infections. Second-line therapy in patients
unable to tolerate rifampin during the continuation
phase.
Don’t Forget!
Want an easy way to remember that ethambutol
causes optic neuritis? Just remember: for
Ethambutol, the Eyes have it!