Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Ethambutol (EMB) is an antibiotic used against tuberculosis and some related mycobacterial infections. It blocks the enzymes that build arabinogalactan, a part of the mycobacterial cell wall. It is part of the standard first phase of tuberculosis treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide. Its main side effect is damage to the optic nerve, so vision is checked. It is sold as Myambutol, among other names.
Ethambutol is cleared mostly unchanged by the kidneys. The gene studies listing it concern liver injury during combined tuberculosis treatment, where NAT2, the gene that matters for isoniazid, and other genes were studied; ethambutol itself rarely affects the liver. There is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Ethambutol. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
TNF rs1800629: Level 3. Toxicity: Toxic liver disease, Tuberculosis. 2.
CYP2C9 rs9332096: Level 3. Toxicity: Maculopapular Exanthema, Tuberculosis. 2.
CYP2B6 CYP2B6*1, CYP2B6*6: Level 3. Toxicity: Tuberculosis. 1.
NAT2 rs1041983: Level 3. Toxicity: Toxic liver disease, Tuberculosis. 1.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Isoniazid (Antimycobacterials)
Pyrazinamide (Antimycobacterials)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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