Cycloserine Drug Information

    Generic name: CYCLOSERINE

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    Uses of Cycloserine

    Cycloserine is indicated in the treatment of active pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (including renal disease) when the causative organisms are susceptible to this drug and when treatment with the primary medications (streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol) has proved inadequate. Like all antituberculosis drugs, cycloserine should be administered in conjunction with other effective chemotherapy and not as the sole therapeutic agent. Cycloserine may be effective in the treatment of acute urinary tract infections caused by susceptible strains of gram-positive and gram- negative bacteria.

    Use of cycloserine in these infections should be considered only when more conventional therapy has failed and when the organism has been demonstrated to be susceptible to the drug

    Dosage & Administration of Cycloserine

    Cycloserine is effective orally and is currently administered only by this route. The usual dosage is 500 mg to 1 g daily in divided doses monitored by blood levels. 1 The initial adult dosage most frequently given is 250 mg twice daily at 12-hour intervals for the first 2 weeks. A daily dosage of 1 g should not be exceeded.

    Side Effects of Cycloserine

    • Most adverse reactions occurring during therapy with cycloserine involve the nervous system or are manifestations of drug hypersensitivity. The following side effects have been observed in patients receiving cycloserine: Nervous system symptoms (which appear to be related to higher dosages of the drug, i.e., more than 500 mg daily)
    • Convulsions
    • Drowsiness and somnolence
    • Headache
    • Tremor
    • Dysarthria
    • Vertigo
    • Confusion and disorientation with loss of memory
    • Psychoses, possibly with suicidal tendencies
    • Character changes
    • Hyperirritability
    • Aggression
    • Paresis
    • Hyperreflexia
    • Paresthesia
    • Major & minor (localized) clonic seizures
    • Coma Cardiovascular: Sudden development of congestive heart failure in patients receiving 1 to 1.5 g of cycloserine daily has been reported. Allergy (apparently not related to dosage) Skin rash Miscellaneous: Elevated serum transaminase, especially in patients with preexisting liver disease To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Cerovene, Inc. at 1-833-304-9569 or FDA at 1‑800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

    Warnings & Cautions for Cycloserine

    Administration of cycloserine should be discontinued or the dosage reduced if the patient develops allergic dermatitis or symptoms of CNS toxicity, such as convulsions, psychosis, somnolence, depression, confusion, hyperreflexia, headache, tremor, vertigo paresis, or dysarthria. The toxicity of cycloserine is closely related to excessive blood levels (above 30 mcg/mL), as determined by high dosage or inadequate renal clearance. The ratio of toxic dose to effective dose in tuberculosis is small.

    The risk of convulsions is increased in chronic alcoholics. Patients should be monitored by hematologic, renal excretion, blood level, and liver function studies.

    Contraindications for Cycloserine

    • Administration is contraindicated in patients with any of the following:
    • Hypersensitivity to cycloserine
    • Epilepsy
    • Depression, severe anxiety, or psychosis
    • Severe renal insufficiency
    • Excessive concurrent use of alcoho

    Overdosage Information for Cycloserine

    • Signs and Symptoms: Acute toxicity from cycloserine can occur if more than 1 g is ingested by an adult. Chronic toxicity from cycloserine is dose related and can occur if more than 500 mg is administered daily. The central nervous system is the most common organ system involved with toxicity. Toxic effects may include headache, vertigo, confusion, drowsiness, hyperirritability, paresthesias, dysarthria, psychosis paresis, convulsions, and coma.
    • Treatment: In adults, many of the neurotoxic effects of cycloserine can be both treated and prevented with the administration of 200 to 300 mg of pyridoxine daily. Hemodialysis has been shown to remove cycloserine from the bloodstream. This procedure should be reserved for patients with life threatening toxicity that is unresponsive to less invasive therapy.

    Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.

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