The standard therapy for treating active tuberculosis is:

Initial phase - first 2 months (RIPE)

• Rifampicin
• Isoniazid
• Pyrazinamide
• Ethambutol (the 2006 NICE guidelines now recommend giving a 'fourth drug' such as ethambutol routinely - previously this was only added if drug-resistant tuberculosis was suspected)

Continuation phase - next 4 months

• Rifampicin
• Isoniazid

The treatment for latent tuberculosis is 3 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) and rifampicin OR 6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine)

NICE (2016) UK

Base the choice of regimen on the person's clinical circumstances. Offer:

• 3 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) and rifampicin to people younger than 35 years if hepatotoxicity is a concern after an assessment of both liver function (including transaminase levels) and risk factors
• 6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) if interactions with rifamycins are a concern, for example, in people with HIV or who have had a transplant.

Patients with meningeal tuberculosis are treated for a prolonged period (at least 12 months) with the addition of steroids

Directly observed therapy with a three times a week dosing regimen may be indicated in certain groups, including:

• homeless people with active tuberculosis
• patients who are likely to have poor concordance