How should this medicine be used?

Ethambutol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken once a day in the morning. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ethambutol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Ethambutol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• loss of appetite
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• numbness and tingling in the hands or feet

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• blurred vision
• inability to see the colors red and green
• sudden changes in vision
• skin rash
• itching

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.