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Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis

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SparkyDMFD
SparkyDMFD

I'm curious as to anyone else's recent experience with treatment for Latent TB.  I tested positive in May.  June 1 (2017) I was started on Isoniazid daily with a Vitamin.  I was suppose to take it for 9 months.  I have been very sick from the meds.  My baseline liver enzymes prior to beginning the meds were normal (ALT 38-AST 42).  Following 5 weeks of meds (7/11) my first liver enzyme test was ALT 431-AST 323.  My most recent test was on 8/10 (9 weeks since starting the meds) and my liver enzymes were at ALT 655-AST 499.  I am so very sick.  Unable to eat without getting sick.  My Infectious Disease doc just tells me to keep taking it and see them in mid-September.  2 days ago I called  my Public Health Nurse and she recommended I stop immediately.  I stopped the drug and am waiting to hear of another possible replacement.  Does anyone else have any experience to share on treatment for Latent (non-active) TB?  HELP!

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Tiny_D
    Tiny_D SparkyDMFD

    Posted

    Why were you only put on one antibiotic ? I think most people are sick when taking tb medication myself included you can get anti sickness meds from your tb doctor.
    • SparkyDMFD
      SparkyDMFD Tiny_D

      Posted

      I was put on Isoniazid (antibiotic) and Vitamin B6.  Obviously my liver can't tolerate the Isoniazid.  Last week my primary care doctor gave me Zoran (for sickness).  Do you remember what antibiotic you took tiny?  I'm getting a referral to a different doctor this week.

  • Tiny_D
    Tiny_D SparkyDMFD

    Posted

    Hi there am on four anti biotics moxifloxacin. Isoniazid. Pyrazianamide and ethambutol i have to have a total of 11 of them also takin anti itch meds and and sickness . Need i say i feel so ill with this lot . I have pulmonary tb diagnosed in may . Please let me know how you get on .
    • SparkyDMFD
      SparkyDMFD Tiny_D

      Posted

      Thanks for the quick response.  So is your TB active or latent?  WOW, that's a lot of meds.  I've only been on the Isoniazid and. Pyrazianamide.  Diagnosed the first of May.  Started meds June 1.  Have your liver enzymes remained fairly normal?  I'm still pending being assigned a different specialist.  Enjoying a brief break from these meds!

  • Tiny_D
    Tiny_D SparkyDMFD

    Posted

    Hi there my pulmonary tb came as a big shock to me . I had a chest infection which was not moving even with 3 different types of antibiotics so my gp arranged an xray and a lump was on my lung so had follow up xray 6 wks later and lump still not gone . So to cut a long story short as i can i was sent for scans ect doctors thinking Cancer ! but not sure ! so after 3 scans specialist says wait 3 months see if it grows but i just wanted it out !!! So had biospy and my lung collapsed which they said could happ four days after coming out of hosp lung back up but they never got a good result from biospy . Anyway lump finialy was removed i recovered that operation being left very breathless for a while to say the least . So back to specialist and yes so relieved not cancer 😊But then was told i had tb the lump was tb!!!! I had no symptoms of tb so how did that happen?????ANYWAY my treatment eventually began doctor said still tb infection around tissues even tho lump been removed . I feel moor poorly now that ever theses are the most horrible meds ever and another thing is there aint enough support about either . Ps not sure if you use fb or not or where ur from but only one support group on fb . Chat soon .

    • SparkyDMFD
      SparkyDMFD Tiny_D

      Posted

      WOW Tiny!  That's horrible!  I was only exposed to someone last March with Active TB (in Thailand).  He didn't know he had TB until after I returned home.  However, I saw the symptom in him.  For that reason I was tested in April and to my surprises tested positive.  However, mine is "Latent" meaning it is NOT active.  My lungs are completely clear and I have not had active TB, as you do.  However, with Latent TB you must complete the 9 month regiment of meds.  However, not as many as you are!  This will kill the disease so it will not become active....however, I will always test positive, so if I am re-exposed, there is no way to know unless lung symptoms develop.  I am currently on a hiatus from my meds because my liver functions got way too high last week.  I am now in the process of changing doctors.  My liver is enjoying a much needed "break" for the moment.  I feel HUMAN again....but I know it's only short term.  How much longer do you have on your meds?  Do you know where you were exposed to TB?  Please feel free to email me directly at

      Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • Tiny_D
      Tiny_D SparkyDMFD

      Posted

      I av got to do 2 yrs on treatment because if other medicines i take and doctor trylng to avoid interaction s . I wish i knew how i got it not got a clue 😔. Your email has been removed but if you can work out how to email then please do i dont understand how to do it haha . Oh i dont know how my liver is doing because had phone call from tb nurse to go and have another test as they cant find my result from the last blood test????very strange !but all i know is cannot stop feeling nausea only vomited once . Hate this treatment so much ....

    • Guest
      Guest Tiny_D

      Posted

      Take Probiotics daily to help combat all those antibiotics!!! It will help the battle with good and bad bacteria!!! My blood counts are all over the place I believe parasites/worm invasion but all test negative now I'm wondering when they do full bloods do they check for TB??? I had CT scans and ex Ray's done for an injury on my back then was questioned wether I'd ever suffered from liver or kidney problems/// Noooo 

      Now I see TB coming up a lot just had more bloods done yesterday see what comes from them😪😪😪🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💐💐💐

  • SparkyDMFD
    SparkyDMFD

    Posted

    Update:  The doctors discontinued my treatment 4 weeks ago and I am now feeling GREAT!  Apparently I have a sensitive liver that cannot tolerate the meds.  Without any treatment I have only a 10% chance of my disease becoming active.  Even with 9 months of treatment, I would still have a 1% chance of it becoming active.  So....I now pray that my Latent TB never becomes active.  If I do Ii will need to be treated by the CDC physicians. Hopefully, treatment will become better in time with more manageable meds for me.  For now I'm celebrating feeling GREAT again!

    • rach54137
      rach54137 SparkyDMFD

      Posted

      hey did you ever go back on meds after stopping your initial treatment ? I am on 4 month course of Rifampin 600mg once a day for Latent ( inactive TB). Before starting my ALT level was 22. After 1 month it was 44 and after 2 months it is 85. I have 2 more months left on this medicine. I also do not have gall bladder due to stones and have history of idiopathic pancreatititis post my gall bladder removal. I am meeting my doctor tomorrow, i am not comfortable continuing this med and wondering what are my options let me know what you did thanks !

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