Q: I am a 28 years old male, married for the last one and a half years. I under went diagnostic laparoscopy for a tubular block. After the procedure I was advised to take R-Cinex for 3 months along with an antibiotic course. Is it OK to take a TB drug without having TB?

A:R-Cinex is the brand name of a combination product that contains rifampicin and isoniazid, two drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It would be inappropriate to use anti-tubercular medicines unless a firm diagnosis of the disease is made. If at all there is active tuberculosis, then R-Cinex alone would be insufficient since at least three, preferably, four anti-TB medicines must be used for initial phase of two months so that the TB germs do not become resistant. Using potent medicines irrationally can lead to serious adverse effects.