What would happen if i stopped medication early?

[nikeman]

I have been taking medication after having a positive PPD test back in January.  I got my chest xray the same day I got the PPD results and it came back negative.  I did not really want to take the medicine to begin with but I went ahead and filled the prescription.  I have been taking them like I was supposed to ever since and just started on my 5th bottle out of 6.  I know of 2 other people who also had positive PPD results with negative chest xrays and both of their doctors gave them the option to take the medication or not.  I really liked my doctor a lot (she recently passed) but I can't help but wonder if she was just playing it extra safe in not giving me the option to not take the medication, which of course is not a bad thing.  Anyway, what would happen if I stopped taking the pills less than a month early?  I ask because I know I am not supposed to drink alcohol while on these pills and I have not have any alcohol at all since probably a week before I started these pills.  There are several events coming up in the next couple months at which will involve celebration with close friends, including a wedding and a vacation.  I would really like to drink a few beers with my friend at his wedding and also while on my vacation which is actually a graduation present for my recent completion of college.  

Any tips would be great.  I would go see my new doctor and ask her but I just do not have the money to pay for an office visit at the moment with the economy the way it is and my insurance sucking as much as it does.

Thanks,
Robert

[remar]

Caregiver knows what he's talking about. Please just stay on your meds. It's only two more months and having a few drinks with friends is not worth risking your health. Remar

[caregiver222]

Recently they have developed a specific test that will differentiate those who test a false positive from PPD from those infected with mtb. Scientific American described the test a few months ago.

Once infected, the organism does not disappear. You are infected for life, and all you can hope for is remission.

The presence of night sweats or symptoms is not relevant.

[nikeman]

thanks for the replies guys.  I don't really plan on stopping the medication unless I get a definite answer saying that it wont hurt anything.  I think I may have messed up in my question.  I have 2 months worth of pills left and the events are in one month.  I guess I said it backwards for some reason.  Anyway, lets say I take these pills all the way through to the end....  When would it be considered safe to have a few drinks after that last pill is taken?  

I happen to work in the medical field and am very aware of how many false positives people receive through the PPD tests.  My doctor also told me that if I actually had TB that I would show symptoms within a month after my positive reading at the latest.  I have had no night sweats or any other symptoms so I am sure I do not have TB.  

[caregiver222]

First of all tuberculosis is a deadly disease that kills,

If he prescribed medication that medication must be taken without fail for the entire period.  There are laws in the United States (bot usually enforced, unfortunately) providing for mandatory imprisonment of those who fail to take tb medication.

At Bath Shipyards in Maine, one employee who failed to take medication infected 256 other people.And NO, you cannot take a single drink.

The fact you have a negative x-ray means nothing because mtb can manifest itself in other parts of the body besides the lungs.

Your physician is not "playing it safe".

She is responsibly exercising her mandate to protect the community from a horrible disease.

If you stopped taking the pills a month early you run the risk of developing multidrug resistant mtb.

[remar]

It does sound like your Dr is being safe prescribing the meds for you. You only have one month left to take them and you say the events will be in about 2 months so by then I would think it would be safe to have a few beers. Maybe you can call the office and ask if it's safe to stop your meds early. If she says no, then ask if you can drink a month after you've finished them. Some Drs are very good about taking phone calls so you would'nt have to pay for an office visit. Remar