Bedaquiline is an antibiotic. It is used together with other medicines to treat a lung infection known as tuberculosis (TB) when it becomes resistant to other antibiotics.
Take Bedaquiline exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it together with food or immediately after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day or according to your dosing schedule.
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
Some available products of this medicine may be mixed with water or food or given via certain nasogastric feeding tubes. You may discuss with your doctor if you are having difficulty swallowing the tablets.
If you cannot swallow the whole tablet, you may disperse up to 5 tablets in 5 mL of water, then stir and drink immediately, or you can further mix the dispersed solution with at least 5 mL of beverage (e.g. milk products, apple or orange juice, carbonated drinks). Alternatively, the tablets may be crushed and mixed with soft foods (e.g. yoghurt, apple sauce).
If you are on nasogastric feeding tube, your healthcare provider will administer your dose.
Take Bedaquiline at regular intervals. Do not skip any doses. You must complete the entire course of medicine. If you don't, the infection will not be properly controlled. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment course of your medicine.
If you miss a dose during the first 2 weeks of treatment, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
If you miss a dose from the third week onwards, take the missed dose as soon as possible and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
Do not take Bedaquiline if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or any of its ingredients.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- heart failure
- current or history of abnormal heart rhythm or other heart problems
- family history of congenital long QT syndrome (an inherited disease that causes fast heartbeats)
- current or history of reduced thyroid gland function
- low potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels in the blood
- moderate or severe liver disease
- severe kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Bedaquiline to a child. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects.
Notify your doctor if you consume large amounts of alcohol or if you are a frequent drinker.
What must I do to prevent spreading TB to other people?
TB is spread through the air, especially when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Always cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. If you use tissue paper, seal it in a plastic bag before you throw it away. If you need to be around people for a long time, be sure to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose to minimise the risk of passing the disease to other people.
You may still be able to infect others while undergoing treatment for TB. Your doctor may tell you to stay at home to avoid passing the disease to other people. You may need to sleep in a bedroom separate from your family members.
Be sure to finish the course of medication according to your doctor's instructions.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine tests (e.g. liver function, electrolyte levels) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine.
- Your doctor may need to perform ECG (a test used to record the electrical activity of the heart) to make sure that your heart is normal before you take this medicine and during treatment.
Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
Bedaquiline may cause dizziness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, rash, joint and muscle pain.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unusual tiredness, dark coloured urine, light coloured stools
- chest pain
- fast or irregular heartbeat, feeling faint or very bad dizziness
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any of these medicines:
- other medicines to treat TB e.g. rifampicin
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- certain antibiotics e.g. ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin
- medicines to treat fungal infections e.g. ketoconazole
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. ritonavir, efavirenz
- clofazimine (medicine to treat leprosy, a bacterial infection that affects the skin, nerves, eyes, and nose)
- St. John's wort (herbal medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Bedaquiline.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol intake may worsen the damaging effect on the liver caused by Bedaquiline.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Keep tablets in their original package to protect from light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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