ETHAMBUTOL 400 MG TABLETS - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Patient leaflet - ETHAMBUTOL 400 MG TABLETS

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET

1. What Ethambutol Tablets are and what they are used for

2. What you need to know before you take Ethambutol Tablets

3. How to take Ethambutol Tablets

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Ethambutol Tablets

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. WHAT ETHAMBUTOL TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR

The active ingredient in your tablets is ethambutol hydrochloride, which belongs to a group of medicines called anti-tuberculosis drugs. These are used to treat and prevent tuberculosis which is an infectious disease mainly affecting the lungs.

2. what you need to know before you take ethambutol tablets

Do not take these tablets if you:

are allergic (hypersensitive) to ethambutol, or to any of the other ingredients (these are listed in section 6, other information)
have problems with your eyes or your eyesight (unless your doctor has decided it is essential).

Warnings and precautions:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ethambutol Tablets if you have

problems with your eyesight – your doctor will arrange for a full check of your eyesight before you start taking this medicine. If you notice any changes to your vision whilst taking this medicine, you MUST inform your doctor straight away. Young children or people with communication difficulties should be closely monitored by their parents or carers for any signs of problems with their eyesight.
kidney problems as your doctor may decide to adjust the dose of Ethambutol Tablets.

Other medicines and Ethambutol Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Ethambutol Tablets should not be taken at the same time as antacid medicines containing aluminium hydroxide (used to relieve heartburn and indigestion), as this can make ethambutol less effective.

Although ethambutol is not known to be affected itself by any other drugs or to affect other drugs, make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any other medicines.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you are trying for a baby, unless your doctor considers it essential. Speak to your doctor before taking the tablets.

Driving and using machinery

Ethambutol can cause problems with eyesight, dizziness, disorientation or tingling/numbness in hands or feet. You should not drive or operate machinery if it has this effect on you.

3. how to take ethambutol tablets

The tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink of water. They should be taken as a single dose once a day.

The doctor will decide what dose of tablets you need to take. The dose varies from person to person depending on age, weight and whether it is being used for treatment or prevention of tuberculosis.

If you suffer from any kidney problems your doctor may do blood tests to check whether you need to take a lower dose than usual.

Always take the tablets exactly as the doctor has told you. The dose will be on the pharmacist’s label. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Carry on taking them for as long as you have been told unless you have any problems in which case, check with your doctor.

Adults:

For prevention and first time treatment of tuberculosis: The usual dose is 15 mg per kg of body weight each day.

Second time (or subsequent) treatment of tuberculosis: The usual dose is 25 mg per kg of body weight each day for the first 60 days, reducing to 15 mg per kg of body weight each day for as long as necessary.

Children:

For prevention of tuberculosis: The usual dose is 15 mg per kg of body weight each day.

First time, second time (or subsequent) treatment of tuberculosis: The usual dose is 25 mg per kg of body weight each day for the first 60 days, reducing to 15 mg per kg of body weight each day for as long as necessary.

Elderly:

The same dosages as for adults are usually used although reduced doses may be required in the elderly who have kidney problems; in these patients the doctor will carry out blood tests to determine the dose required.

If you take more tablets than you should

If you have accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Remember to take the pack and any remaining tablets with you.

If you forget to take a dose of Ethambutol Tablets

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, however, if this is within a few hours of when your next dose is due, skip the missed dose and just carry on with the normal routine. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, ethambutol can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Some side effects can be serious.

Stop taking Ethambutol Tablets and tell your doctor straightaway if you notice the following effects:

sudden wheeziness, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, eyes, lips or throat, flushed appearance, irregular heartbeat. (These may be symptoms of a severe allergic reaction)
any changes or problems with your eyesight including loss of vision, blurred vision, eye pain or colour blindness. Usually sight will return to normal after stopping treatment with ethambutol, but in rare cases the problem may take longer to return to normal or become permanent.

Tell your doctor straightaway if you notice any of the following effects:

skin rash and itching, a condition known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome which involves a skin rash, possibly with peeling and blistering and a sore mouth; other skin problems including hard lumps, red patches often on the backs of arms and hands and blisters or peeling
you have pale stools or your skin or whites of your eyes become yellow (as these may be signs of a liver problem)
you develop pain in the lower back or you experience difficulty or pain in urinating (as these may be signs of a kidney problem)
you notice any unusual bleeding, bruising or discoloured skin (as these may be signs of a blood disorder)
you notice any changes to your vision

The following other side effects have also been reported:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

eye problems; loss of vision due to inflammation of the optic nerve, colour blindness, loss of the sharpness; acuteness; keenness of vision

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

high levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricaemia)

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)

numbness, pins and needles sensation,
low blood platelet count (which may result in bruising, nosebleeds, pinpoint red spots, prolonged bleeding after injury)
minor allergic reactions such as rashes, itching and hives

Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

blood disorders such as reduction in the number of white cells in the blood and low level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell
dizziness, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, headache, fever, generally feeling unwell
joint pains, burning pain, weakness in hands and feet
fluid in the lungs or inflammation of the lungs which may cause breathlessness, cough and raised temperature
kidney problems (lower back pain, pain or burning when passing urine, difficulty passing urine)
gout (which results in warmth, swelling, reddish discoloration, and marked tenderness of joint especially common to affect big toe)
blisters or peeling of skin (including following exposure to sunlight)

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

shaking
stomach problems, including loss of appetite, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, flatulence (wind), stomach pain, metallic taste and weight loss
hepatitis, jaundice, transient increase in liver enzymes, abnormal liver function tests in patients on multiple medications

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme, Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. how to store ethambutol tablets

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not store above 25°C. Keep your medicine in the pack in which it was given to you.

Do not transfer your medicine to another container.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date (Exp.) stated. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. contents of the pack and other information

Ethambutol Tablets are available in two strengths containing either 100 mg or 400 mg ethambutol hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

The other ingredients are sodium starch glycolate, maize starch, povidone, colloidal anhydrous silica, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate and colours containing polydextrose, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol and yellow iron oxide (E172); the 400 mg tablets also contain black iron oxide (E172).

What the medicine looks like and contents of the pack

Ethambutol 100 mg Tablets are yellow, round, film-coated tablets.

Ethambutol 400 mg Tablets are grey, round, film-coated tablets.

Each pack contains 56 tablets.

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Fannin (UK) Ltd.,

DCC Vital,

Westminster Industrial Estate,

Repton Road,

Measham,

DE12 7DT,

England.

Manufacturer responsible for batch release:

Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited,

Crowbridge Road, Ashford,

Kent,

TN24 0GR, U.K.