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Can I Discontinue Taking Medicines For Tuberculosis When Mantuax Test Is Negative ?
My mantuax test was negative but based on chest x-ray report the doctors have given me tuberculosis medicines. Today I have started taking the medicines and have taken it in the morning- Rifampicin (450mg) & isoniazid tablet (300mg)---(1 tablet) ethambutol hydrochloride I.P 800mg--- (1 tablet) Pyrazinamide tablets I.P 500 mg--- (1 tablet) Optineuron--- (1 tablet) I want to go to bigger hospital to get it tested again because Mantaux test was negative so, I want to discontinue taking the medicines but I have heard that the bacteria can become drug resistant if medicines are skipped. So, please tell me, can I discontinue the medicine since I have taken only one dose? another question is that if I continue the medicines Will the test for Tuberculosis come positive if I test it again? I have no cough problem, only problem is mild fever , stomach pain and chills. I don t want to take medicines for 6 months if I am not suffering from it.Please guide me!
posted on
Wed, 30 Mar 2011
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 22 Apr 2013
Answered on
Tue, 23 Apr 2013
Last reviewed on
Hello.
Thanks for visiting HCM.
Montoux test is not the diagnostic test always..many a times it is false negative. If chest xray is suggestive, it is better to go for sputum for acid fast bacilli examination for two samples, one of which must be early morning sample, to directly visualise the bacteria under microscope. If it is positive starting the therapy is mandatory. Even if the sputum test is negative and there is strong clinical or xray suspicion of tuberculosis, it is always better to go for the treatment.
Taking a single dose will not make the bacteria drug resistant, so don't worry. And single dose will not alter the test result too.
If you have doubt on the diagnosis, better consult higher centres because mental satisfaction is also a must.
I think 500 mg of pyrazinamide is just underdosing..so revise the dose.
Best wishes
Thanks for visiting HCM.
Montoux test is not the diagnostic test always..many a times it is false negative. If chest xray is suggestive, it is better to go for sputum for acid fast bacilli examination for two samples, one of which must be early morning sample, to directly visualise the bacteria under microscope. If it is positive starting the therapy is mandatory. Even if the sputum test is negative and there is strong clinical or xray suspicion of tuberculosis, it is always better to go for the treatment.
Taking a single dose will not make the bacteria drug resistant, so don't worry. And single dose will not alter the test result too.
If you have doubt on the diagnosis, better consult higher centres because mental satisfaction is also a must.
I think 500 mg of pyrazinamide is just underdosing..so revise the dose.
Best wishes
I find this answer helpful
hi, welcome to Healthcare Magic forum.
you are right. from what you said, you dont need to take the medicine. get yourselves evaluated again in a better hospital. if you have no symtoms, only xray is not enough to start on tb medicines. get your sputum checked for TB. then consider taking medicines.take care.
you are right. from what you said, you dont need to take the medicine. get yourselves evaluated again in a better hospital. if you have no symtoms, only xray is not enough to start on tb medicines. get your sputum checked for TB. then consider taking medicines.take care.
I find this answer helpful
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