ethambutol

drug

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

Ethambutol is a synthetic drug used primarily in the treatment of tuberculosis. Its chemical formula is C₁₀H₂₄N₂O₂, and it is typically administered in the form of its hydrochloride salt.1

Ethambutol works by preventing the synthesis of mycolic acid, a lipid crucial for the structure of the tubercule bacillus. It is one of several synthetic drugs, alongside isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethionamide, used in tuberculosis treatment. These medications are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and can penetrate body tissues and cells.2

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antibiotic
Antituberculosis antibiotics
Isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and ethionamide are synthetic chemicals used in treating tuberculosis. Isoniazid, ethionamide, and pyrazinamide are similar in structure to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a coenzyme essential for several physiological processes. Ethambutol prevents the synthesis of mycolic acid, a
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Isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and ethionamide are synthetic chemicals used in treating tuberculosis. Isoniazid, ethionamide, and pyrazinamide are similar in structure to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a coenzyme essential for several physiological processes. Ethambutol prevents the synthesis of mycolic acid, a
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tuberculosis
Treatment
…with other agents, such as ethambutol, pyrazinamide, or rifapentine, in order to avoid the development of drug-resistant bacilli.
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…with other agents, such as ethambutol, pyrazinamide, or rifapentine, in order to avoid the development of drug-resistant bacilli.
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