Isoniazid and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2018

For Tuberculosis, Latent "Started taking isoniazid (INH), and about a week later felt horrible: nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea, extremely dizzy, hard to even sit up in a chair, no appetite. This lasted 4 days after I stopped the medication. Started feeling better on the 5th day I started back on INH, all was good until the 5th day, sick all over again, lost 6 lbs. I'm a skinny guy as it is. I think I'm gonna take my chances of 5-10% of getting sick later with TB. Never felt so bad, could hardly stand up, felt like I was going to pass out. My liver is more important than a 5-10% chance of getting TB."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2012

For Tuberculosis, Active "I have just started the medicines for TB, and already I'm not well. The rifampin gave me a major allergic reaction and had to be stopped. Now on isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, and vitamin B6-major stomach problems and diarrhea."

• Lee...
• October 9, 2019

For Tuberculosis, Latent "My experience on isoniazid over the last two months has been bad. I was wanting to be positive, but it has been a struggle to say the least. I was prescribed 300 mg a day (30 yo female, 60 kg weight), and after the first few days, I had extremely bad diarrhea, fatigue, body aches all over, and felt nauseous. I pushed through 14 days of this and then had to stop due to being so ill and off work. My doctor then told me to rest a week and then try again, this time doing 1 week on 100 mg, then week 2, 200 mg, and finally getting back up to 300 mg. This really helped my body adjust a bit better, still had days off in bed, sleeping, chills, cramps in my legs, not eating, feeling bad, but it helped. Personally, it’s a huge whack to the system and takes an emotional toll being so sick and tired all the time. I have lost a lot of my hair too, which is not fun, and I was told it’s quite normal! Hopefully, it’s all worth it!"

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2022

For Tuberculosis, Latent "I’m taking 900 mg of isoniazid and 900 mg of priftin once a week. Just took week 3, and it’s kicking my butt. Bad, bad, bad headache, upset stomach, diarrhea, throwing up, lightheaded/dizzy. Even passed out in my bathroom. I am not looking forward to the next 9 weeks. Not sure the risks of the drugs are worth it. Latent TB can sit dormant your whole life. I sure hope these symptoms ease up."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2021

For Tuberculosis, Latent "After 4 days of isoniazid for latent TB, I experienced bad diarrhea. Disturbed rest at night when it happened mostly (3-4 times) after midnight till early 7 AM. After 3 months, rashes, fever, and nausea happened. Finally, it was so bad I required A&E admission in hospital. Liver ALT and Asp all shot up to very dangerous levels around 900. Stop isoniazid now when doc confirms is the cause of this."