When and for how long is a person able to spread tuberculosis

Condition analysis:
A person with pulmonary TB disease may remain contagious until he/she has been on appropriate treatment for several weeks. However, a person with TB infection cannot spread the disease to others.

Instructions:
What medicines are used to treat tuberculosis?
Depending on your doctor’s recommendations, you may take 1 or more of these medicines. These medicines do not usually cause side effects. However, TB drugs can damage your liver. See the box below for a list of serious side effects.

Don’t drink alcohol or take acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) while taking TB drugs. Alcohol and acetaminophen can increase the risk of liver problems. Always check with your doctor before you take any other medicine because some drugs interact with TB drugs and can cause side effects.

While taking these medicines, your doctor may want to monitor you every month. For example, you may need to visit your doctor for tests, to get another prescription, and to check for any side effects or problems.

Isoniazid
Rifampin
Ethambutol
Pyrazinamide