Treatment depends upon whether the tuberculosis is latent or active.

- daily dose of isoniazid

- Isoniazid

- Rifampin (one brand name: Rifadin)

- Ethambutol (brand name: Myambutol)

- Pyrazinamide

Medicines may be given for up to a year.

Due to complications of TB the patient with active TB may have to be hospitalized. Also hospitalization may be indicated to prevent the spread of the disease to others until the contagious period has been resolved with drug therapy. As medicines are taken regular check-ups are done to control complications and verify that treatment plan is working.

A risk due to the long span in treatment is a patient stopping or forgetting to take the medicine. This can lead to drug-resistant TB which is very difficult to cure. Because of this the use of Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) may be required - where a health personnel directly verifies that the patient is taking all the drugs prescribed.