What are the long term side effects of TB medications? Can they be treated?
I was treated for Pulmonary TB for like 9 months. I was also treated for pneumonia simultaneously.
I am very much fine now - so I thought. However, as they said, sometimes side effects is much worse than the TB itself.
I was off my treatment for more than 2 years already. But it seems that side effects lingers a little longer. Generally, I felt something I haven’t felt even during the time I still have TB - such as occasional palpitation (I really hate this), minor depression, dizziness, pain in my rib cage every time I breath deeply, indigestions, headache etc...
Of course I don’t forget to thank all the recoveries I have - I want to thank the High Heavens for that. During my TB days I was so skinny, just like anybody else who has tb, I was coughing my lungs out, appetite loss, night sweats, bloody sputum, chest and back pain, weakness, fatigue —- these were gone now!
One thing I would point out is my weight gain. I haven’t gained weight ever since. I am naturally thin and slender since childhood. But now I’m like 8 kilos overweight. I don’t know if weight gain is another untowards side effects of TB meds or just a result of slowed metabolism, I’m already 37. Also, my skin returned to its natural color, energy is back, appetite is reeved-up, deep sleep back - all in all I’m back on my feet!
Except for the residual side effects I have mentioned.
They said sometimes its long term, well I don’t want it to be long term in my case. I’d do every thing in my power to heal myself from those pesky side effects.
What do you suggest?
Best Regards,
Paul
Written by
Roldan
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Although I do not have experience of being treated for active TB, as you have. I would firstly say “ well done” for achieving the long term antibiotics and therefore killing off the TB bacteria! This is such an achievement and I suspect you must say a quiet thank you every day!
However, I was treated with antibiotics for latent TB.
My thoughts are to take your ailments to your GP to investigate. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and any “new” ailments are easy for me to blame on that.
Get your GP to consider each of these issues to see if there is something else going on. For example, you mention rib pain when breathing deeply. This could be Chostocondritis which is inflammation of the muscles that attach to the sternum. It can be very painful or gradually increase in pain and can last many, many months.
For example the headaches and dizziness ( and possibly heart palpitations) could be connected.... low blood pressure? Ear infection?
You would be wise to write down all your ailments and try to recall when they started and if you can see a pattern when they worsen. Do you have a blood pressure monitor at home to do readings a few times throughout the day and record this over the period until you get a GP appointment. All this information is helpful to your GP. Do mention your weight gain too. It could be connected.
You have come through so much by killing off TB it seems a shame for you to suffer any longer with other minor ( but annoying) issues. Best of luck.
I have not taken TB meds because 'they' did not offer me the pleasure of that but a special nurse told me long after the correct time to take the meds that I had passed the 'cut off date' to be 'allowed to take them' because the ANTIBIOTICS WILL 'BURN YOUR LIVER out'! That statement made by her may well not be entirely true because she did not have a clue about the fact that Ciprofloxacin does have an important role in the science and treatment of tuberculosis.
It seems obvious that each and every one of us is an individual and treatments that affect some may not affect others on an identical treatment.
A man who was seen to run the London marathon at 104 was indeed fitter than some runners half his age! Would I ask would his liver had been damaged at 70? I find that most interesting that some can cope with what others cannot.... On the whole this is nature.
As already advised you would always be well advised to speak to your specialist doctors about any symptoms that you are concerned about directly to them.
It is worth discussing this with a doctor. If you have had symptoms continuously since finishing your TB treatment then it is possible they relate to the TB. However, any new symptoms are unlikely to. Either way, it is wise to get any ongoing symptoms checked by a doctor. Even if they turn out to be something minor your doctor should be able to offer advice and something to relieve them.
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