Combutol 800 mg is prescribed for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. It should not be used as the sole antituberculous medicine. But, it should be used with drugs containing the active ingredient of a group of medicines known as antituberculosis drugs. It is used to treat and prevent tuberculosis, an infectious disease mainly affecting the lungs.   

Always take Combutol 800 mg tablet exactly as your doctor has told you to. If you have any doubts, please check with your doctor. The dosage varies from person to person depending on your age, how much you weigh and whether it is used for treating and preventing pulmonary tuberculosis Patients with renal insufficiency should take Combutol once daily. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water, do not chew or crush the tablet. Please ask your doctor if you are unsure how many tablets or when to take them. Keep taking medicine for as long as your doctor has prescribed, even if you feel your symptoms.  

Do not take Combutol 800 mg if you have vision problems or are allergic to ethambutol hydrochloride or other ingredients in the medicine. You should have your eyesight checked before taking these tablets. If you develop changes in your vision while taking medicine, you should discontinue treatment and inform your doctor immediately. In most cases, any changes in the vision will return to normal within a few weeks or months after treatment discontinuation. Rarely, it may take longer for eyesight to recover, or the vision changes become permanent. Take special care if you have a history of renal insufficiency. Before taking Ethambutol tablets, you should have your kidneys checked. If you get symptoms of hepatitis or feel generally unwell, you may need liver function tests. You should not take Combutol 800 mg at the same time as an antacid containing aluminium hydroxide, as this can make this medicine less effective. Please inform your doctor about all the medications you have been using, including those you have obtained without a prescription.

Combutol 800 can cause side effects like all medicines, although not everybody gets them. Inform your  doctor if you get any of the following symptoms:

   — Severe allergic reaction (flushed appearance, agitation, difficulty breathing, or an irregular heartbeat). If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

   — Eye disorders (loss of vision, colour blindness, or visual acuity). If you notice such changes in your vision, contact your doctor immediately.

   — Liver impairment which may result in yellowing of skin/eyes, blood in your urine, pale stools,

   — Kidney impairment that results in lower back pain, difficulty passing urine, or burning when passing urine.

Other side effects may include high levels of uric acid in the blood, minor allergic reactions, muscle weakness, blood disorders, gout, headache, mental confusion, and liver failure. If you get any side effects, please talk to your doctor.