Final answer:
Isoniazid is a medication used for the treatment of tuberculosis. It works by preventing the synthesis of mycolic acid, which is essential for the cell walls of the mycobacteria that cause TB.
Step-by-step explanation:
Isoniazid is a medication used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The mechanism of action of isoniazid involves preventing the synthesis of mycolic acid, which is essential for the cell walls of the mycobacteria that cause TB.
Isoniazid is administered as a prodrug and requires activation by intracellular bacterial peroxidase enzyme. This activation leads to the formation of isoniazid-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and isoniazid-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which ultimately inhibits the synthesis of mycolic acid.
It is important to note that isoniazid can have side effects such as hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and hematologic toxicity.