5 Treatment (Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Leprosy Burden and Sustaining Leprosy Control Activities 2006-2010‪)‬

5.1 What is MDT and what steps need to be taken when starting treatment? Multi-drug therapy (MDT) is a combination of drugs that is very safe and effective in treating leprosy to prevent the emergence of drug resistance; under no circumstance should leprosy be treated by a single drug. MDT is available free-of-charge to all who need it. The drugs are all taken by mouth. MDT is provided in convenient blister packs covering four weeks of treatment (in these guidelines the four-week period is referred to as a "month"). There are different packs with the same drugs, but in smaller doses, for children. MDT is safe for women and their babies during pregnancy and breast-feeding. MDT can be given to HIV-positive patients, those on anti-retroviral treatment and to patients on treatment for tuberculosis (TB). If a leprosy patient is treated for TB, the MDT regimen should omit rifampicin as long as the TB regimen contains rifampicin.