ISONIAZID is used to treat or prevent tuberculosis. For treatment of tuberculosis, other medicines may be used together with isoniazid. For prevention of tuberculosis, isoniazid may be given alone. Generic isoniazid tablets are available.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•acne
•diabetes mellitus
•kidney disease
•if you frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages
•liver disease
•malnutrition
•seizures (convulsions)
•tingling of the fingers or toes, or other nerve disorder
•an unusual or allergic reaction to isoniazid, other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take isoniazid tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water. Take isoniazid on an empty stomach; 1 to 2 hours before food, or at least 2 hours after food. Take your doses at regular intervals and try not to miss any doses. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber’s advice.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If you do not remember until the next day, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
What drug(s) may interact with isoniazid?
•alcohol
•carbamazepine
•chlorzoxazone
•cycloserine
•diazepam
•disulfiram
•doxercalciferol
•furazolidone
•histamine-containing foods (examples: aged cheeses and fish such as tuna, skipjack, sardinella and especially raw fish or spoiled fish)
•hormones such as prednisone or cortisone
•itraconazole
•linezolid
•medicines called MAO inhibitors-phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), selegiline (Eldepryl®)
•medicines for diabetes
•paricalcitol
•phenytoin
•procarbazine
•rifampin
•some medications for Parkinson’s disease, such as entacapone, levodopa or tolcapone
•tyramine-containing foods (such as cheeses; meats and fish, especially those that are aged, smoked, pickled, or processed; beer and ale; wine; avocados; bananas; figs; raisins; soy sauce; miso soup; yeast extract; and bean curd)
•valproic acid
•voriconazole
•warfarin
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from taking isoniazid?
Elderly patients are more likely to get side effects.
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
•blood in urine
•blurred vision, eye pain
•changes in how you see color (especially seeing the difference between red and green)
•clumsiness, unsteadiness
•dark yellow or brown urine
•difficulty breathing
•fever or chills, sore throat
•headache
•loss of appetite
•nausea, vomiting
•reduced amount of urine passed
•seizures (convulsions)
•skin rash, itching
•stomach pain
•tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet
•unusual bleeding or bruising
•unusual tiredness or weakness
•yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•diarrhea
•upset stomach
What should I watch for while taking isoniazid?
Keep taking your isoniazid even if you feel better. You may need to take this medicine for a long time. Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks; tell him of any change in your vision. Report any other side effects promptly.
Ask your prescriber or health care professional if you need to take pyridoxine, vitamin B6. Isoniazid can make your body short of this vitamin.
Avoid alcoholic drinks while you are taking isoniazid. Alcohol can increase the damage to your liver from isoniazid.
An interaction between isoniazid and certain foods can make you feel ill (see interactions’ list). If you get red or itching skin, fast heartbeat, sweat, get chills or feel clammy, feel lightheaded and have a headache, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional as soon as you can and avoid these foods.
Antacids can prevent isoniazid from working correctly. If you get an upset stomach and want to take an antacid, make sure there is an interval of at least 2 hours since you last took isoniazid, or at least 4 hours before your next dose.
If you are diabetic, you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
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