ISONIAZID (ISONICOTINIC ACID HYDRAZIDE)  (eye-soe-nye'a-zid)  INH, Isotamine , Laniazid, Nydrazid, PMS Isoniazid  Classifications: antibioitic; antituberculosis agent; Therapeutic: antibiotic; antituberculosis Pregnancy Category: C
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Availability
50 mg, 100 mg, 300 mg tablets; 50 mg/5 mL syrup; 100 mg/mL injection
Action
Hydrazide of isonicotinic acid with highly specific action against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Postulated to act by interfering with biosynthesis of bacterial proteins, nucleic acid, and lipids.
Therapeutic Effect
Exerts bacteriostatic action against actively growing tubercle bacilli; may be bactericidal in higher concentrations.
Uses
Treatment of all forms of active tuberculosis caused by susceptible organisms and as preventive in high-risk persons (e.g.,
household members, persons with positive tuberculin skin test reactions). May be used alone or with other tuberculostatic
agents.
Unlabeled Uses
Treatment of atypical mycobacterial infections; tuberculous meningitis; action tremor in multiple sclerosis.
Contraindications
History of isoniazid-associated hypersensitivity reactions, including hepatic injury; acute liver damage of any etiology;
pregnancy (category C) unless risk is warranted.
Cautious Use
Chronic liver disease; HIV infection; hepatitis; severe renal dysfunction; history of convulsive disorders; chronic alcoholism;
persons over 50 y.
Route & Dosage
Treatment of Active Tuberculosis Adult: PO/IM 5 mg/kg (max: 300 mg/d) Child: PO/IM 1020 mg/kg (max: 300500 mg/d)
Preventive Therapy Adult: PO 300 mg/d Child: PO 10 mg/kg up to 300 mg/d or 15 mg/kg 3 times/wk
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Administration
Oral
- Give on an empty stomach at least 1 h before or 2 h after meals. If GI irritation occurs, drug may be taken with meals.
Intramuscular
- Note: Isoniazid solution for IM injection tends to crystallize at low temperatures; if this occurs, solution should be allowed
to warm to room temperature to redissolve crystals before use.
- Give deep into a large muscle and rotate injection sites; local transient pain may follow IM injections.
- Store in tightly closed, light-resistant containers.
Adverse Effects (≥1%)
Body as a Whole: Drug-related fever, rheumatic and lupus erythematosus-like syndromes, irritation at injection site; hypersensitivity (fever,
chills, skin eruption, vasculitis).
CNS: Paresthesias, peripheral neuropathy, headache, unusual tiredness or weakness, tinnitus, dizziness, hallucinations.
Special Senses: Blurred vision, visual disturbances, optic
neuritis, atrophy.
GI: Nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, dry mouth, constipation; hepatotoxicity (
elevated AST, ALT; bilirubinemia,
jaundice,
hepatitis).
Hematologic: Agranulocytosis, hemolytic or
aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, methemoglobinemia.
Metabolic: Decreased vitamin B
12 absorption, pyridoxine (vitamin B
6) deficiency, pellagra, gynecomastia, hyperglycemia, glycosuria, hyperkalemia, hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia, acetonuria,
metabolic acidosis, proteinuria.
Other: Dyspnea, urinary retention (males).
Diagnostic Test Interference
Isoniazid may produce false-positive results using copper sulfate tests (e.g., Benedict's solution, Clinitest) but not with glucose oxidase methods (e.g., Clinistix, Dextrostix, TesTape).
Interactions
Drug: Cycloserine, ethionamide enhance
CNS toxicity; may increase
phenytoin levels, resulting in
toxicity;
aluminum-containing antacids decrease GI absorption;
disulfiram may cause coordination difficulties or psychotic reactions;
alcohol increases risk of hepatotoxicity.
Food: Food decreases rate and extent of isoniazid absorption; should be taken 1 h before meals.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption: Readily from GI tract; food may reduce rate and extent of absorption.
Peak: 12 h.
Distribution: Distributed to all body tissues and fluids including the
CNS; crosses placenta.
Metabolism: Inactivated by acetylation in liver.
Elimination: 7596% in urine in 24 h; excreted in breast milk.
Half-Life: 14 h.
Nursing Implications
Assessment & Drug Effects
- Monitor for therapeutic effectiveness: Evident within the first 23 wk of therapy. Over 90% of patients receiving
optimal therapy have negative sputum by the sixth month.
- Perform appropriate susceptibility tests before initiation of therapy and periodically thereafter to detect possible bacterial
resistance.
- Lab tests: Monitor hepatic function periodically. Isoniazid hepatitis (sometimes fatal) usually develops during the first
36 mo of treatment, but may occur at any time during therapy; much more frequent in patients 35 y or older, especially
in those who ingest alcohol daily.
- Monitor for visual disturbance. An eye examination may be warranted.
- Note: Inactivation of the drug is genetically determined. Slow inactivation leads to high plasma drug levels and increased risk
of toxicity.
- Isoniazid-induced pyridoxine (vitamin B6) depletion causes neurotoxic effects. B6 supplementation (1050 mg) usually accompanies isoniazid use.
- Peripheral neuritis, the most common toxic effect, is usually preceded by paresthesias of feet and hands (numbness, tingling,
burning). Patients particularly susceptible include alcoholics and patients with liver disease, malnourished patients, diabetics,
slow inactivators, pregnant women, and older adults.
- Monitor BP during period of dosage adjustment. Some experience orthostatic hypotension; therefore, caution against rapid
positional changes.
- Monitor diabetics for loss of glycemic control.
- Check weight at least twice weekly under standard conditions.
Patient & Family Education
- Note: Eating tyramine-containing foods (e.g., aged cheeses, smoked fish) may cause palpitation, flushing, and blood pressure elevation.
Histamine-containing foods (e.g., skipjack, tuna, sauerkraut juice, yeast extracts) may cause exaggerated drug response
(headache, hypotension, palpitation, sweating, itching, flushing, diarrhea).
- Withhold medication and notify physician if S&S of hepatotoxicity develop (e.g., dark urine, jaundice, clay-colored stools).
- Avoid or at least reduce alcohol intake while on isoniazid therapy because of increased risk of hepatotoxicity.
- Withhold all drugs and notify physician of hypersensitivity reaction immediately; generally occurs within 37 wk after
initiation of therapy.