Tibione in the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

¹ Glen Lake Sanatorium, Oak Terrace, Minnesota

Amithiozone (Tibione) in doses of 100 mg. daily for four to six months, has demonstrated definite but limited benefit in the treatment of patients with advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Toxic reactions, including progressive anemia, granulocytopenia and toxic hepatitis, occur with sufficient frequency to limit its usefulness and necessitate frequent laboratory examinations. Amithiozone is not as effective as streptomycin with PAS and its use should be limited to patients whose organisms are resistant to streptomycin and PAS or where streptomycin and PAS cannot be employed because of toxic or allergic reactions. Resistance to amithiozone develops frequently following six months of treatment.