What is pyrazinamide?
Pyrazinamide is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). TB is an opportunistic infection. An opportunistic infection is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as those infected with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems.
The Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), includes recommendations on the HIV-related use of pyrazinamide to treat active TB disease.
What should I tell my health care provider before taking pyrazinamide?
Before taking pyrazinamide, tell your health care provider:
- If you are allergic to pyrazinamide or any other medicines.
- About any medical conditions you have or have had, for example, diabetes or liver problems.
- About anything that could affect your ability to take medicines, such as difficulty swallowing or remembering to take pills.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Whether pyrazinamide can harm an unborn baby is unknown.
- If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you are infected with HIV.
- About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between pyrazinamide and the other medicines you take.
Ask your health care provider about possible side effects from pyrazinamide. Your health care provider will tell you what to do if you have side effects.
How should I take pyrazinamide?
Take pyrazinamide according to your health care provider’s instructions. Your health care provider will tell you how much pyrazinamide to take and when to take it. Before you start pyrazinamide and each time you get a refill, read any printed information that comes with your medicine.
How should pyrazinamide be stored?
- Store pyrazinamide tablets in a well-closed container at room temperature, 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
- Safely throw away pyrazinamide that is no longer needed or expired (out of date).
- Keep pyrazinamide and all medicines out of reach of children.
Where can I find more information about pyrazinamide?
More information about pyrazinamide is available:
Last Reviewed: September 13, 2012
Last Updated: September 13, 2012