Question
Why have i been given the TB med isoniazid?
2 May 2023. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, Starting treatment, TB.
I have just been diagnosed and have started ARVs. My doctor has also given me something called Isoniazid. What is it for?
Answer
Hi,
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis but it is really good that you found out and have started HIV treatment (called ART).
ART is really effective and means that people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives thanks to HIV. In general, if you are careful taking your meds, you could live as long as if you were still HIV negative.
Isoniziad is sometimes given to people with HIV as a way to prevent TB. A prophylaxis is a medication you take to prevent, rather than treat and illness or infection. So you are taking Isoniziad to prevent getting TB.
This link has information about being newly diagnosed .
Also, this link is a guide with information about starting treatment.
Further info
TB and HIV coinfection (from the i-Base training manual)
https://i-base.info/ttfa/5-ois-and-coinfections/7-tuberculosis-tb
UK (BHIVA) guidelines on HIV and TB coinfection.
https://www.bhiva.org/TB-guidelines
This answer was updated in May 2023 from a question from July 2015.
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