Rifadin

Rifadin

     * Generic Name: rifampin
     * Brand Name: Rifadin


     * What is rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * What are the possible side effects of rifampin (Rifadin,
       Rimactane)?
     * What is the most important information I should know about
       rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
       rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * How should I take rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * What happens if I miss a dose (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * What happens if I overdose (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * What should I avoid while taking rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * What other drugs will affect rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?
     * Where can I get more information (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

What is rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Rifampin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria and prevents it
   from spreading in your body.

   Rifampin is used to treat or prevent tuberculosis (TB).

   Rifampin may also be used to reduce certain bacteria in your nose and
   throat that could cause meningitis or other infections. Rifampin
   prevents you from spreading these bacteria to other people, but this
   medicine will not treat an active meningitis infection.

   Rifampin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication
   guide.

What are the possible side effects of rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction
   (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a
   severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes,
   skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering
   and peeling).

   Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can
   affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever,
   swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness,
   unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. This reaction may
   occur several weeks after you began using rifampin.

   Call your doctor at once if you have:
     * severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
     * a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
     * chest pain, cough, shortness of breath;
     * pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
     * easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums);
     * little or no urinating;
     * flu symptoms--fever, chills, body aches, headache, weakness,
       nausea, vomiting); or
     * liver problems--upper stomach pain, tired feeling, loss of
       appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or
       eyes).

   Common side effects may include:
     * heartburn, gas, upset stomach, loss of appetite;
     * nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps;
     * headache, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, tired feeling;
     * muscle weakness, pain in your arms or legs;
     * vision problems;
     * flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling); or
     * confusion, changes in behavior, trouble concentrating.

   This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call
   your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side
   effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about rifampin (Rifadin,
Rimactane)?

   Some medicines can interact with rifampin and should not be used at the
   same time. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you
   take medicine to treat HIV or AIDS.

   Rifadin Patient Information including How Should I Take
   Heart Disease:The No. 1 Killer in the U.S.

   Heart Disease Slideshow Pictures
   RxList

   Medical Illustrations of the Heart Image Collection
   RxList

   Take the Heart Disease Quiz!

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rifampin
(Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   You should not use rifampin if you are allergic to it, or if you are
   taking saquinavir with ritonavir.

   Some medicines can interact with rifampin and should not be used at the
   same time. Rifampin can make certain HIV or AIDS medicines less
   effective, or make your HIV infection resistant to antiviral
   medicine. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you
   take:
     * atazanavir;
     * darunavir;
     * fosamprenavir;
     * saquinavir; or
     * tipranavir.

   To make sure rifampin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
     * diabetes;
     * liver disease;
     * porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms
       affecting the skin or nervous system).

   It is not known whether rifampin will harm an unborn baby. However,
   taking rifampin during the last few weeks of pregnancy may cause
   bleeding in the mother or the newborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are
   pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

   Rifampin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor
   about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with
   spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking rifampin.

   Rifampin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You
   should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How should I take rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Rifampin is usually taken daily. Follow all directions on your
   prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller
   amounts or for longer than recommended.

   Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

   Rifampin works best if you take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after a
   meal.

   Rifampin may cause temporary discoloration of your teeth, sweat,
   urine, saliva, and tears (a yellow, orange, red, or brown color).
   This side effect is usually not harmful. However, soft contact lenses
   may be permanently stained if you wear them while taking rifampin.

   Dark colored urine can be a sign of liver problems. Call your doctor if
   you have reddish-brown urine together with upper stomach pain, loss of
   appetite, and jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

   Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms
   may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses
   may increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to
   antibiotics. Rifampin will not treat a viral infection such as the
   flu or a common cold.

   While using rifampin, you may need frequent blood tests.

   If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are
   using rifampin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short
   time.

   You should not stop using rifampin without your doctor's advice.
   Stopping the medicine suddenly and later starting again may cause
   kidney problems. Rifampin is usually given until lab tests show
   that the infection has cleared.

   This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests.
   Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using rifampin.

   Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle
   tightly closed when not in use.

   Rifadin Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose
   Heart Disease:The No. 1 Killer in the U.S.

   Heart Disease Slideshow Pictures
   RxList

   Medical Illustrations of the Heart Image Collection
   RxList

   Take the Heart Disease Quiz!

What happens if I miss a dose (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if
   it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra
   medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at
   1-800-222-1222.

   Overdose can cause worsening symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach
   pain, itching, headache, lack of energy leading to loss of
   consciousness, and dark or discolored skin, saliva, tears, urine, or
   stools.

What should I avoid while taking rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Avoid drinking alcohol.

   Avoid wearing contact lenses. Rifampin may discolor your tears, which
   could permanently stain soft contact lenses.

What other drugs will affect rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Many drugs can interact with rifampin. Not all possible interactions
   are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and
   any you start or stop using, especially:
     * sulfasalazine;
     * theophylline;
     * birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;
     * levothyroxine or other thyroid medicine;
     * certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines;
     * a blood thinner, or medicine to treat or prevent blood clots;
     * drugs that lower cholesterol, such as clofibrate;
     * drugs to treat depression or mental illness, such as
       amitriptyline, haloperidol, lurasidone, nortriptyline;
     * drugs to treat HIV or AIDS, such as zidovudine;
     * heart or blood pressure medicine, such as digoxin, diltiazem,
       disopyramide, enalapril, metoprolol, mexiletine,
       nifedipine, nimodipine, quinidine, ranolazine, tocainide,
       verapamil;
     * medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection--cyclosporine,
       sirolimus, tacrolimus;
     * medicines to treat or prevent malaria, such as
       artemether-lumefantrine, atovaquone, praziquantel, quinine;
     * opioid (narcotic) medicine, such as morphine, methadone;
     * oral diabetes medication, such as glimepiride, glipizide,
       tolbutamide;
     * a sedative, such as diazepam or midazolam;
     * seizure medicine, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital,
       lamotrigine; or
     * steroid medicine (prednisone, and others).

   This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with
   rifampin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines,
   vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any
   healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information (Rifadin, Rimactane)?

   Your pharmacist can provide more information about rifampin.
     __________________________________________________________________

   Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
   children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
   medication only for the indication prescribed.
   Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by
   Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
   but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
   herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
   use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
   therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United
   States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
   Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or
   recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational
   resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring
   for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a
   supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill,
   knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a
   warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be
   construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe,
   effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume
   any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the
   aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is
   not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions,
   warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If
   you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your
   doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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