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Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program |
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Why do I need to take medicine?
You take the medicine so that you do not get sick with TB disease.
Your doctor has found that:
- you had a positive skin test or
- you had TB in the past and did not have enough treatment.
This means that you may have TB germs in your body.
How did I get the TB germs?
Someone with TB in the lungs sneezed or coughed and you breathed the TB germs into your lungs.
Will the TB germs harm me?
Your body fought against the germs and made a wall around them. This wall stopped the germs from spreading in the lungs or to other parts of your body.
The chest x-ray and tests done by your doctor show that the germs have not spread. You don’t feel sick and you don’t even know the germs are there!
This is called TB infection.
Can the germs make me sick?
Yes. If your body gets weak, it might not be strong enough to keep the germs in the wall. If the wall breaks, the germs will grow and make you sick.
This is called TB disease.
What are the symptoms of TB disease?
- cough
- weight loss
- fever
- loss of appetite
- night sweats/chills
- chest pain
- feeling tired
How is TB infection different from TB disease?
| TB infection |
TB disease |
- you cannot spread it
- you do not feel sick
- germs are sleeping and do not harm you
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- you can spread it
- you can feel sick
- germs are awake and growing in your body
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What medicine do I need to prevent TB?
The medicine is called INH (isoniazid). It is available as a pill or as a liquid (syrup).
Usually a vitamin (B6) pill is also given. Sometimes another medicine (rifampin) is used instead of INH and B6.
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What does the medicine do?
The medicine kills the germs inside the wall before they spread or make you sick.
How long do I take the medicine?
Usually you take INH for 9 to 12 months. TB germs are very strong. It takes many months to kill them with the medicine.
It is very important to take the medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. If you do not, some germs might stay in your body and could make you sick.
How do I take the medicine?
- It is important to take the medicine every day or it may not work.
- If you forget to take the medicine, take it as soon as you can, but never take two pills at the same time.
- Take the medicine at the same time every day – for example, first thing in the morning or at bedtime.
- Try to take the medicine on an empty stomach. If it hurts your stomach, take it with food.
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What should I talk to my doctor about?
- Tell your doctor about all other medicine that you are taking because some medicine cannot be taken at the same time.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. You could damage your liver.
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Will the medicine make me feel sick?
Most people feel well, but the medicine can make some people feel sick. Call your doctor right away if you have:
- nausea or vomiting
- yellow skin or eyes
- fever
- very dark urine
- loss of appetite
- skin rash or itchy skin
- a feeling of being very tired or weak
- painful or tingling feeling in fingers/toes
Can I get TB after I take the medicine?
People who take the medicine every day as told by the doctor, almost never get sick with TB disease.
People who do not take the medicine every day may get sick with TB disease in the future.
Do I have to pay for the medicine?
No. The medicine is free.
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What do I do when I need more medicine?
You will be given enough medicine to last for three months.
Please call your doctor at least three weeks before you need more medicine. It takes time for your doctor to get the free medicine for you.
| What should I do now? |
- Take the medicine every day.
- Call your doctor if you start to feel sick.
- Only stop taking the medicine when your doctor tells you.
- If you had a positive skin test, do not repeat it. It will always be positive, even if you have taken medicine to prevent TB.
- Do not share your medicine with other people.
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If you have any questions, please call
Toronto Public Health
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Prevention
Team: |
416-338-7600 |
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East
Region: |
416-338-7492 |
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North
Region: |
416-338-8380 |
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South
Region: |
416-392-7457 |
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West
Region: |
416-338-1521 |
or e-mail targettb@toronto.ca
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