Question
What is the pharmacological basis for the use of pyridoxine along with isoniazid.
Q11 4 marks Short Answers ★ ✓
Answer
Isoniazid interferes with pyridoxine (vitamin B6) metabolism — it structurally competes with pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme reactions and increases pyridoxine’s renal excretion, producing a functional B6 deficiency that manifests as peripheral neuropathy. Co-administering pyridoxine replenishes this deficit and prevents the neuropathy, without reducing isoniazid’s own antitubercular effect — particularly important in patients at higher baseline neuropathy risk (malnourished patients, pregnancy, diabetics, alcoholics).
1 Antitubercular Drugs
Other Years Asked
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