Tuberculosis Cure

A tuberculosis cure was first developed more than 50 years ago. In over 90 percent of patients, tuberculosis can be cured with appropriate treatment, which consists of taking several different antibiotic drugs for 6 to 12 months. A tuberculosis cure relies on close cooperation between the patient and doctor in order to make sure that the right amount of medicine is taken for the right amount of time.

 

An Introduction to the Tuberculosis Cure

In more than nine of out of ten patients, tuberculosis can be cured with appropriate treatment. Treatment for tuberculosis usually combines several different antibiotic drugs that are given for at least six months, sometimes for as long as 12 months.
 
A tuberculosis cure relies on close cooperation between the patient and doctor and other healthcare workers in order to make sure that the right amount of medicine is taken for the right amount of time. If too little medicine is taken, or the right amount is taken for a shorter period of time, a cure is less likely. Furthermore, there is a greater chance a person will develop drug-resistant TB, a condition that is more difficult to cure.
 

Current Tuberculosis Cure

The most common medicications used to treat active tuberculosis include:
 
  • Isoniazid (INH)
  • Rifampin (RIF)
  • Ethambutol
  • Pyrazinamide.
     
For a person with latent tuberculosis, a cure usually comes after at least 6 months of treatment with isoniazid.
 
(Click Tuberculosis Medications or Tuberculosis Treatment for more information on how tuberculosis is cured.)
 
(Tuberculosis Cure Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD