Here is a mnemonic that will help you remember the side effects of antimycobacterial agents:
- Rifampin cause Red discoloration of urine and tears, which can lead to patient anxiety and ruined contact lenses. Patients should be counseled about this ahead of time and should be advised not to wear contact lenses while being treated with this medication.
- Ethambutol causes Eye problems, namely optic neuritis. Toxic optic neuritis typically presents with painless loss of vision in both eyes. Look for look for low vision, visual field defects, and poor red-green discrimination. Patients on ethambutol need periodic eye examinations.
- PyraziNamide, like PuriNes, breaks down into uric acid and causes gout.
- Isoniazid cause peripheral neuropathy. Iso–niazid = isolated nerve problems.
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