Here is the detailed overview of:
💊 Bedaquiline Tablet 100 mg
🌿 Nature / Drug Class:
- Bedaquiline is a diarylquinoline class antibiotic
- Specifically designed to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
- Novel mechanism: inhibits mycobacterial ATP synthase, which is essential for the energy production of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
🎯 Purpose / Indications:
- Used only for Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB) in combination with other anti-TB drugs
- NOT used for drug-sensitive TB
- Helps reduce TB bacterial load in cases resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin
✅ Advantages:
- First new TB drug in over 40 years
- Specifically targets resistant strains
- Oral tablet form makes administration easier
- Shortens time to culture conversion in MDR-TB
- Shown to improve treatment success rates in MDR-TB patients
💊 Dosage (Standard for Adults):
- Weeks 1–2: 400 mg once daily (i.e., 4 × 100 mg tablets)
- Weeks 3–24: 200 mg three times per week (e.g., Mon/Wed/Fri)
Must be taken with food to increase absorption
📦 Common Packaging:
- 100 mg tablet
- Usually supplied in packs of 188 tablets for the full 24-week treatment
- Tablets are film-coated, round or oval, often embossed
⚠️ Precautions / Monitoring:
- Used under specialist supervision only (e.g., RNTCP/NTEP program in India)
- ECG monitoring is essential due to risk of QT interval prolongation
- Monitor:
- Liver function (LFTs)
- Electrolytes (K⁺, Mg²⁺)
- Heart rhythm (ECG)
- Avoid alcohol, other QT-prolonging drugs, and drugs causing liver stress
❌ Contraindications / Caution:
- History of cardiac arrhythmias
- Pregnancy & breastfeeding (not enough safety data)
- Severe liver disease
- Not recommended in children <18 years unless clearly indicated
❗ Possible Side Effects:
- QT prolongation (heart rhythm abnormality – serious risk)
- Nausea, vomiting, headache
- Liver enzyme elevation
- Joint pain
- Rash or hypersensitivity (rare)
🧊 Storage:
- Store at room temperature (below 30°C)
- Protect from light and moisture
- Keep in original blister until use
📝 Patient Advice:
- Take with a full meal
- Do not skip doses
- Report any dizziness, chest pain, or palpitations immediately
- Full MDR-TB treatment includes multiple drugs – take as prescribed