Influence of prior information of drug toxicity on patient compliance.

: Sixty patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, who had not received any chemotherapy in the past, were divided into two groups. All the patients were put on isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide for 8 weeks followed by isoniazid and rifampicin for another 18 weeks. Group A patients were informed of the likely occurrence of anorexia and/or vomiting but Group B patients were not. Routine and default retrieval home visits were given to ensure maximal drug compliance. Drug toxicity related early defaults were significantly less common in Group A patients (1 of 30) as compared to Group B (6 of 30).