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Diagnosed With PTB, Taken Medicines For A Short Time. Can I Restart Them?
Hi, I was diagnosed with PTB a year ago and so i was instructed by the doctor to take fixcom 4, 2 tabs, twice daily, however, i only took the medications for a month and a half. its been 9 months now since i last took the medications, i feel well but i still wanna know if i need to get back on my medications. Thanks and Godbless.
posted on
Thu, 21 Jun 2012
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 12 Jul 2012
Answered on
Mon, 16 Jul 2012
Last reviewed on
hello Ralph
thanks for giving us an opportunity to help you
since you had already left treatment for 9months and feeling well, there is no reason to start medications again. about 25% of tb patients heal by themselves. to be sure of the healing process, i would advise you to get a chest x-ray and sputum for AFB(acid fast bacilli) done. in case of an abnormal test, you must restart the therapy again, else no need. proper treatment cures tuberculosis completely but incomplete treatment is harmful for you, your family and community.
wish you a good health
Dr. Gurpreet Narula
thanks for giving us an opportunity to help you
since you had already left treatment for 9months and feeling well, there is no reason to start medications again. about 25% of tb patients heal by themselves. to be sure of the healing process, i would advise you to get a chest x-ray and sputum for AFB(acid fast bacilli) done. in case of an abnormal test, you must restart the therapy again, else no need. proper treatment cures tuberculosis completely but incomplete treatment is harmful for you, your family and community.
wish you a good health
Dr. Gurpreet Narula
I find this answer helpful
User's Response
Dr. Tushar Sahasrabudhe's
Response
Hello.
It is always desirable to complete TB treatment as defaults lead to increased chances of relapse in future and also of drug resistance which is very difficult to treat.
However you are in a tricky situation. You claim to be all right. I would suggest you to undergo thorough testing (at least sputum test and X-ray chest) to confirm if your TB is really inactive. If so, wait and watch for any warning symptoms of relapse. If unsure/ detected to have active TB, you will need a re-treatment regimen with 5 drugs (including 60 injections of streptomycin) and for 8 month duration.
-Dr. Tushar
It is always desirable to complete TB treatment as defaults lead to increased chances of relapse in future and also of drug resistance which is very difficult to treat.
However you are in a tricky situation. You claim to be all right. I would suggest you to undergo thorough testing (at least sputum test and X-ray chest) to confirm if your TB is really inactive. If so, wait and watch for any warning symptoms of relapse. If unsure/ detected to have active TB, you will need a re-treatment regimen with 5 drugs (including 60 injections of streptomycin) and for 8 month duration.
-Dr. Tushar
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