isoniazid

noun

iso·​ni·​a·​zid ˌī-sə-ˈnī-ə-zəd 

: a crystalline compound C₆H₇N₃O used in treating tuberculosis

Examples of isoniazid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But most importantly, when an effective treatment became available, it was disseminated worldwide, and part of that happened because isoniazid was unpatentable, so costs for producing it and treating people with it remained low. —Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023

In this fashion, certain derivatives of hydrazine were discovered to be effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice, including the famous drug isoniazid, which is still used to this day as part of the standard treatment regimen for the lung infection. —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 27 Jan. 2016

Note:To be specific, XDR-TB is resistant to the two first-line drugs, isoniazid and rifampin, used to treat TB initially, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin). —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2013

Apolisi, together with a physician colleague, ensures that children in close contact with her TB patients take the daily preventive medication isoniazid for at least six months, as recommended by the WHO. —Sofia Moutinho, Scientific American, 14 May 2022

Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a form of MDR-TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, in addition to fluoroquinolones and injectable second-line drugs. —Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 6 June 2021

In the past decade, scientists have come up with two shorter courses: a drug called rifampin taken every day for four months; or a combination of isoniazid and rifapentine, taken once weekly for three months. —Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2019

But several studies have shown that isoniazid combined with rifapentine prevents TB if the pills are taken once a week for 12 weeks. —Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, 31 Oct. 2019

The World Health Organization has estimated that in 2016, some 600,000 cases of tuberculosis were resistant to at least two of the front-line drugs used to treat tuberculosis, rifampicin and isoniazid. —Melissa Healy, latimes.com, 25 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

is- + nicotinic acid + hydrazide

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

isoniazid

noun

iso·​ni·​a·​zid ˌī-sə-ˈnī-ə-zəd 

: a crystalline compound C₆H₇N₃O used in treating tuberculosis

called also isonicotinic acid hydrazide