Pyrazinamide

What is pyrazinamide?

Pyrazinamide is a medicine used to treat an infection called tuberculosis or TB.

You may hear pyrazinamide called by its brand name, Tebrazid. Pyrazinamide comes in a tablet form.

Before giving pyrazinamide to your child

Tell your child's doctor if your child has hypersensitivity to pyrazinamide or any other medicine.

Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions.

Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• liver disease
• kidney disease
• gout
• diabetes mellitus

How should you give your child pyrazinamide?

Give your child this medicine:

• for as long as your doctor ordered, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving pyrazinamide for any reason.
• at the same time every day, exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you. Pick a time that is easy for you and your child so that your child does not miss doses.
• with or without food. Give this medicine with food if you find that it bothers your child's stomach.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of pyrazinamide?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of pyrazinamide?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take pyrazinamide. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• unusual tiredness
• upset stomach
• throwing up
• loss of appetite

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• pain in bones or muscles
• rash or itching

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem.

Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• yellow skin or eyes
• dark urine
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• a fever that is new, or that does not go away

What safety measures should you take when your child is using pyrazinamide?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with pyrazinamide. In some cases, the dose of pyrazinamide or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over-the-counter, natural, or herbal products).

Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.

What other important information should you know about pyrazinamide?

• Keep all appointments at the clinic or the doctor's office so that the doctor can check your child's response to pyrazinamide. Your child may need to have regular blood tests while he or she is taking pyrazinamide.
• Pyrazinamide may make your child's skin more likely to sunburn. Make sure your child covers their skin and head with clothing and a hat when outside. Your child should also use sunscreen (a cream that protects the skin from the sun). Look for a sunscreen that says it protects against the sun's ultraviolet rays, called UVA and UVB rays. The sunscreen should have a sun protection factor, called SPF, of at least 15. Ask your pharmacist to help you pick the right sunscreen.
• If your child is taking this medicine for tuberculosis, the government may cover the cost of your prescription. Speak to your TB clinic nurse for more information.
• Keep pyrazinamide at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Make sure you always have enough pyrazinamide to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
  

Keep pyrazinamide out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much pyrazinamide, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.