Background: Standard six months short course regimen for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is very effective and is recommended as standard treatment. But this regimen composes of many drugs and causes high adverse drug reactions especially gastrointestinal irritation. Spitted administration of drugs to two times a day may reduce adverse drug reactions.
Objective: To study adverse drug reactions and outcome of single daily versus split drug (two times a day) administration of standard six month short course regimen in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis.
Material and Method: Newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients of the Central Chest Institute of Thailand were randomized to receive standard six months regimen once daily or two times a day (split drug). Patients were followed-up every two weeks and a questionnaire was used to detect adverse drug reactions. Outcome of treatment was evaluated according to national tuberculosis treatment guideline.
Results: 122 pulmonary tuberculosis were eligible for the present study and 61 patients were enrolled to each group of once daily or split drug regimen. Pulmonary tuberculosis patients who received split drug regimen had a higher cure rate but not statistical significance because of lower transfer out rate. Adverse drug reactions were similar in both groups of patients who received once daily and split drug regimen. Although split drug group had lower gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions.
Conclusion: Split drug regimen has the same cure rate of treatment as single daily regimen and same adverse drug reactions.

Keywords: Single daily, Split drug, Short course regimen, Pulmonary tuberculosis