Q: My mother is being treated for tuberculosis (TB) of the bone at L4. She has been prescribed the following medicines: AKT4, Benadon, Zinetac, Cobdexfore, Livogen and Glucoby. What is the exact problem with her?

A:Indications for various medicines listed by you are as follows: AKT-4 contains four medicines all used in the treatment of TB. Zinetac is the brand name; the name of the medicine is ranitidine. It is used to suppress acidity or to treat peptic and gastric ulcers. Glucobay is the brand name; the name of the medicine is acarbose. It is sometimes given to diabetics. Cobadex Frote is a multi-ingredient brand that contains B-complex vitamins, vitamin C and folic acid. It is to be given if there is deficiency of these vitamins. Livogen Hemtonic contains iron and folic acid. It is given to those whose anaemia is due to iron deficiency. Benadon contains vitamin B-6. It is given to patients who are deficient in this vitamin and also with isoniazid (one of the four drugs used in TB) to prevent nerve problems.