The U.S. FDA approved cycloserine in 1954 to treat tuberculosis and urinary tract infections. It belongs to the class of antibiotics.

Cycloserine is used to treat tuberculosis (TB) together with other medicines. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection which mainly affects the lungs. It is also used to treat urinary tract infections. 

Take cycloserine are available as 250mg tablets which can be consumed orally. Your physician will decide the correct dosage and duration based on age, body weight, and disease condition. 

The common side effects that are experienced while you are on the treatment with cycloserine are coma, headache, feeling tired or very sleepy, shaking, dizziness, confusion, hallucination, loss of memory, slurred speech, twitching and muscle stiffness, anaemia, abnormalities of liver function. Consult your doctor immediately if you have an allergic reaction (sudden wheezing, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching).

Elderly patients with kidney disorders should be cautious while taking the medicine. Inform your doctor if you are under psychiatric treatment or have a seizure before taking the medicine. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients present in it. This drug may contain some color compounds which may cause an allergic reaction.

If you have alcoholism, it is advised to avoid or limit your alcohol to avoid the undesirable side effects caused by the drug.  Consult your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant or think you may be pregnant while breastfeeding. Inform your healthcare provider if you have porphyria (a disorder affecting the red blood cells) before taking the medicine.

Kidney patients should be cautious while taking the medicine. If you have alcohol addiction, it is advised to avoid or limit your alcohol to avoid the undesirable side effects caused by the drug. Your doctor will recommend you to monitor your blood count and liver function. Inform your doctor immediately if you have any allergic reaction after using the medicine. 

1. Custom Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC), [Revised on May 2023] [Accessed on 29th Nov 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13280.pdf
2. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Antitubercular drugs, 7th edition, 2013, 771.
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, Chemotherapy of Tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex disease, and Leprosy, 12th edition, 2011, 1562-1563.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice, it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.