These are the antibiotics prescribes for killing the bacteria which causes tuberculosis. The multiple drug therapy involves treating TB by combining different antibiotics. This therapy is regarded as one of the best treatment options for treating the TB which is growing or developing in the body. Most of the medicines taken are in the form of pills. You are recommended to take several combinations of medicines when you are starting the treatment process.
The recommended standard treatment involves the administration of rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide for two months. You should then continue with this treatment for another four months, but you take few medicines. Special treatment is also available for those patients who are suffering from drug-resistant TB, HIV as well as pregnant women.
Prepared combinations of medicines have also been developed such as Rifater. T
hese help in reducing the number of pills taken by the patient. They also help in minimizing the chances of one missing any dose. The patient should use the drug as prescribed for the failure to take some of the medicines could prolong the treatment process. Failure to stick to the doctor’s prescription could also increase the chances of developing the drug-resistant TB.
Furthermore, there have been some antibiotics which have been developed such as rifampin and isoniazid which can be taken to prevent the spread of TB to other people. They can also be taken to inhibit the development of latent TB into active TB. The combination of antibiotics helps in reducing the treatment period significantly. A singe antibiotic could take 6-9 months whereas a combination of antibiotics would just take three months.
Why should you use multiple – drug therapy?
Combination of several drugs makes the treatment process very effective by ensuring that all the bacteria causing TB are killed. The treatment period and the combination of various drugs might change due to various reasons which include the following:
- Your age
- Pregnancy
- Whether you are suffering from active TB or latent TB
How effective is multiple-drug therapy?
Treating active TB disease
This treatment is very effective against the active TB disease. It takes six months 
to treat this condition if the drugs are used consistently. Your body might fail to respond to these drugs in case you happen to miss some doses. It is also used in curing TB in patients who have HIV/AIDs. In fact, the cure rate is similar to that of individuals suffering from TB alone.
Treating latent TB infection
You can take isoniazid drug to prevent the development of active TB from the latent TB infection. The different types of antibiotics can be combined for treating latent TB within a duration of three months. You are advised to ensure that you take all the doses to prevent the development of the resistant bacteria.
