Worried over side effects, TN to stop SM injections for TB treatment

Sources said plans were on to also stop this injection for the treatment of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB as well.

The injection, streptomycin (SM), is being administered for tuberculosis patients coming for re-treatment for long. It is known that this drug led to side effects. What changed now is the realisation that the negative effects of the treatment far outweighed the benefits.

According to Dr S Kumar, nodal officer, MDR TB, about 30 to 40 per cent of the cases that come for treatment in the state are for re-treatment. “Though the side effects of this medicine has been evident for years together, a global research, which was recently highlighted by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), brought to light the fact that the benefits of administering the injection were not that great considering the side effects that one has to go through.”

Following this, it was decided to strictly stop the continuation of the procedure, said the official.

Re-treatment is given to TB patients who have already undergone treatment in the past and have returned for the eight-month treatment. During this period, injections are administered for two months. “However, now we have cut down this treatment to six months with no injection at all. Only tablets will be given,” added Dr Kumar.

Now that the decision has been taken to avoid the injection, the patients coming for re-treatment would undergo the same protocol as earlier, involving only tablets.

“The state has already received a couple of these complaints. But, nothing could be done until there were findings to substantiate this,” said a government source. The official added, “Plans are also on to stop the administration of injections for the treatment of MDR TB as well. This too will be implemented shortly.”