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Can Tuberculosis Medications Cause Nausea, Fatigue And Loss Of Appetite?
Question: Hello Doctor,
My mother is 62 years old and suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis from last 20 years. Last year in October, she was given the course of Biologic drug etanercept weekly.
After 12 injections, she started suffering from breathlessness. Upon taking an X-Ray, little bit of fluid was found in her left lung. Doctor diagnosed it as a reactivation of latent tuberculosis after taking etanercept.
She has now been put on 6 months tuberculosis medication. She has been taking it for last 20 days.
She is suffering from extreme side effects such as nausea, loss of appetitte, extreme weakness.
It is common to have these side effects or do we need to be cautious with her symptoms. What is the further course of action in her case. Please guide.
My mother is 62 years old and suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis from last 20 years. Last year in October, she was given the course of Biologic drug etanercept weekly.
After 12 injections, she started suffering from breathlessness. Upon taking an X-Ray, little bit of fluid was found in her left lung. Doctor diagnosed it as a reactivation of latent tuberculosis after taking etanercept.
She has now been put on 6 months tuberculosis medication. She has been taking it for last 20 days.
She is suffering from extreme side effects such as nausea, loss of appetitte, extreme weakness.
It is common to have these side effects or do we need to be cautious with her symptoms. What is the further course of action in her case. Please guide.
Brief Answer:
Get done SGPT and Bilirubin levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Some degree of side effects like burning epigastric pain, nausea, decreased appetite, bad taste etching is common after anti-tubercular drugs.
But we should definitely rule out drug induced hepatitis if these symptoms are severe.
So in my opinion, she should be checked for SGPT and Bilirubin.
If you these are normal then no need to worry for drug-induced hepatitis.
But if these reports are high then we need to modify antitubercular drugs.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Get done SGPT and Bilirubin levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Some degree of side effects like burning epigastric pain, nausea, decreased appetite, bad taste etching is common after anti-tubercular drugs.
But we should definitely rule out drug induced hepatitis if these symptoms are severe.
So in my opinion, she should be checked for SGPT and Bilirubin.
If you these are normal then no need to worry for drug-induced hepatitis.
But if these reports are high then we need to modify antitubercular drugs.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
We got her LFT one week after starting the medication. It came out to be normal.
How frequently should we get her LFT, SGOT, SGPT done ?
How frequently should we get her LFT, SGOT, SGPT done ?
Brief Answer:
Ideally, it should be done after 2 weeks of starting Antitubercular drugs.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Ideally, these tests should be done after 2 weeks of starting Antitubercular drugs.
If they are normal then no need to further recheck.
It is better to take an antacid and antiemetic drug combination on empty stomach in the morning before antitubercular drugs.
So please let me know if she'd is taking any antacid and antiemetic drug combination.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Kaushal Bhavsar, Pulmonologist
Ideally, it should be done after 2 weeks of starting Antitubercular drugs.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Ideally, these tests should be done after 2 weeks of starting Antitubercular drugs.
If they are normal then no need to further recheck.
It is better to take an antacid and antiemetic drug combination on empty stomach in the morning before antitubercular drugs.
So please let me know if she'd is taking any antacid and antiemetic drug combination.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Kaushal Bhavsar, Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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