antituberculotic drug

Antitubercular drugs are synthetic chemicals used to treat tuberculosis. These drugs work by interfering with essential processes in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. For example, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethionamide are structurally similar to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a vital coenzyme. Ethambutol inhibits the synthesis of mycolic acid, a lipid crucial for the bacterial cell wall. Other drugs, like cycloserine, mimic amino acids to disrupt cell wall formation. Rifampin interferes with RNA synthesis. These medications are typically absorbed orally and distribute throughout the body's tissues. While effective, some can cause side effects, such as liver inflammation with isoniazid.1