Applies to ethionamide: oral tablet.
Serious side effects of Ethionamide
Along with its needed effects, ethionamide may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking ethionamide:
Less common
- Clumsiness or unsteadiness
- confusion
- mental depression
- numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the hands and feet
- yellow eyes or skin
Rare
- Blindness or vision changes
- blue-yellow color blindness
- blurred vision or loss of vision, with or without eye pain
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, painful, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
- changes in menstrual periods
- coldness
- decreased sexual ability (in males)
- decreased vision
- difficulty in concentrating
- dry, puffy skin
- fast heartbeat
- fever
- hives, itching, or rash
- hoarseness
- increased hunger
- increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- irritation
- joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
- redness or other discoloration of the skin
- severe sunburn
- shakiness
- swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the front part of the neck
- tightness in the chest
- troubled breathing or swallowing
- weakness in the hands or feet
- weight gain
Incidence not known
- Chills
- cold sweats
- coma
- cool, pale skin
- dark urine
- dizziness
- general tiredness and weakness
- headache
- light-colored stools
- nausea and vomiting
- nightmares
- seizures
- slurred speech
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- upper right abdominal or stomach pain
- yellow eyes and skin
Other side effects of Ethionamide
Some side effects of ethionamide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- diarrhea
- increased watering of the mouth
- loss of appetite
- metallic taste
- swelling or inflammation of the mouth
- weight loss
Incidence not known
- Blemishes on the skin
- decreased interest in sexual intercourse
- enlargement of the breasts (in males)
- inability to have or keep an erection
- loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
- pimples
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to ethionamide: oral tablet.
General
The most commonly reported side effects included abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Approximately 50% of patients are unable to tolerate 1 gram (as a single dose).[Ref]
Very common (10% or more): Adverse gastrointestinal effects (up to 50%)
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, excessive salivation, gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, stomatitis, vomiting[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia, weight loss
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pellagra-like syndrome
Frequency not reported: Hypoglycemia[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Metallic taste
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Neurotoxic effects, peripheral neuritis
Frequency not reported: Dizziness, drowsiness, headache[Ref]
Ocular
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blurred vision, diplopia, optic neuritis[Ref]
Dermatologic
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Photosensitivity, rash
Frequency not reported: Acne[Ref]
Hematologic
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Purpura, thrombocytopenia[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypersensitivity reactions[Ref]
Hepatic
Frequency not reported: Hepatitis with/without jaundice, transient ALT increases, transient AST increases, transient serum bilirubin increases[Ref]
Psychiatric
Frequency not reported: Mental depression, psychotic disturbances, restlessness[Ref]
Endocrine
Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia, hypothyroidism[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Frequency not reported: Postural hypotension[Ref]
Genitourinary
Frequency not reported: Impotence[Ref]
