About cycloserine
Antibiotic; second-line tuberculosis medicine
Used for
- Used with other medicines to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis.
- Occasionally used for certain urinary tract infections when preferred antibiotics are unsuitable.
Usual adult dose
Tuberculosis: usually 10–15 mg/kg daily, divided into two doses; maximum 1 g daily, adjusted for blood levels and kidney function.
Usual dose in children
Tuberculosis: usually 10–15 mg/kg daily, divided into two doses; maximum 1 g daily, under specialist supervision.
Common side effects
- Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, or tremor
- Mood changes, confusion, or difficulty concentrating
- Seizures or other serious nervous-system effects
- Nausea or skin rash
Important warnings
- Must be taken with other tuberculosis medicines to prevent treatment failure and resistance.
- Can cause severe psychiatric or neurological effects, including seizures.
- Dose needs adjustment in kidney disease; blood-level monitoring may be needed.
- Avoid alcohol, which can increase nervous-system side effects.
Pregnancy
Use only when needed for tuberculosis treatment; a clinician should weigh benefits and risks.
Breastfeeding
Information is limited; use requires clinical assessment, especially for premature or newborn infants.
Interactions
- Alcohol increases the risk of nervous-system side effects.
- Isoniazid may increase neurological side effects.
- Ethionamide may increase seizure risk.
- Other medicines affecting the brain or seizures may raise neurological risks.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.