Formulary
Cycloserine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Cycloserine clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Cycloserine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Cycloserine clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Tuberculosis resistant to first-line drugs, in combination with other drugs**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Initially 250 mg every 12 hours for 2 weeks, then increased if necessary up to 500 mg every 12 hours, dose to be increased according to blood concentration and response.
**Tuberculosis resistant to first-line drugs, in combination with other drugs for cycloserine**
- **Child 2-11 years** (By mouth): Initially 5 mg/kg twice daily (max. per dose 250 mg), then increased if necessary up to 10 mg/kg twice daily (max. per dose 500 mg), dose to be increased according to blood concentration and response.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): Initially 250 mg every 12 hours for 2 weeks, then increased if necessary up to 500 mg every 12 hours, dose to be increased according to blood concentration and response.
Contraindications
Alcohol dependence; depression; epilepsy; psychotic states; severe anxiety
Side effects
Frequency not known Behaviour abnormal; coma; confusion; congestive heart failure; drowsiness; dysarthria; headache; hyperirritability; megaloblastic anaemia; memory loss; neurological effects; paraesthesia; paresis; psychosis; rash; reflexes increased; seizures; suicidal ideation; tremor; vertigo Side-effects, further information CNS toxicity Discontinue or reduce dose if symptoms of CNS toxicity occur. Rashes or allergic dermatitis Discontinue or reduce dose if rashes or allergic dermatitis develop.
Interactions
**Other interactions (3):**
- Alcohol and cycloserine are incompatible, especially during a regimen calling for large doses of the latter.
- Alcohol increases the possibility and risk of epileptic episodes.
- Patients receiving cycloserine and isoniazid should be monitored for signs of CNS toxicity, such as dizziness and drowsiness, as these drugs have a combined toxic action on the CNS.
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk-crosses the placenta.
Breast feeding
Present in milk-amount too small to be harmful.
Renal impairment
Dose adjustments Increase interval between doses if creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/minute. Monitoring Monitor blood-cycloserine concentration if creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/minute.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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