Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Rifadin
  2. Rimactane

Descriptions


Rifampin is used together with other medicines to treat tuberculosis (TB) in many different parts of the body. It is also used by patients who have a meningitis bacteria in their nose or throat who do not show symptoms of the infection to prevent the spread of the bacteria to other patients. Rifampin belongs to the class of medicines called antibiotics and works to kill or prevent the growth of bacteria. However, it will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Capsule

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of rifampin in children.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of rifampin in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Artemether
  • Atazanavir
  • Bictegravir
  • Boceprevir
  • Cabotegravir
  • Cobicistat
  • Daclatasvir
  • Darunavir
  • Dasabuvir
  • Delamanid
  • Doravirine
  • Elbasvir
  • Elvitegravir
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Fostemsavir
  • Glecaprevir
  • Grazoprevir
  • Isavuconazonium
  • Lenacapavir
  • Lopinavir
  • Lorlatinib
  • Lurasidone
  • Maraviroc
  • Mavacamten
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nirmatrelvir
  • Ombitasvir
  • Pacritinib
  • Paritaprevir
  • Pibrentasvir
  • Praziquantel
  • Ranolazine
  • Rilpivirine
  • Ritonavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Sofosbuvir
  • Telaprevir
  • Tenofovir Alafenamide
  • Tipranavir
  • Velpatasvir
  • Voriconazole
  • Voxilaprevir

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abemaciclib
  • Abiraterone Acetate
  • Abrocitinib
  • Acalabrutinib
  • Adagrasib
  • Afatinib
  • Alfentanil
  • Alpelisib
  • Amiodarone
  • Amlodipine
  • Amprenavir
  • Apixaban
  • Apremilast
  • Aprepitant
  • Aripiprazole
  • Atogepant
  • Atovaquone
  • Avacopan
  • Avapritinib
  • Avatrombopag
  • Axitinib
  • Bedaquiline
  • Belumosudil
  • Bendamustine
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Berotralstat
  • Betrixaban
  • Bortezomib
  • Bosutinib
  • Brexpiprazole
  • Brigatinib
  • Brivaracetam
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Cabozantinib
  • Cannabidiol
  • Capivasertib
  • Capmatinib
  • Cariprazine
  • Ceritinib
  • Cholera Vaccine, Live
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clopidogrel
  • Clozapine
  • Cobimetinib
  • Codeine
  • Copanlisib
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabigatran Etexilate
  • Daprodustat
  • Daridorexant
  • Darolutamide
  • Dasatinib
  • Deferasirox
  • Deflazacort
  • Delavirdine
  • Desogestrel
  • Dexamethasone
  • Dienogest
  • Digoxin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Dolutegravir
  • Doxorubicin
  • Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
  • Dronedarone
  • Drospirenone
  • Duvelisib
  • Edoxaban
  • Efavirenz
  • Elacestrant
  • Elagolix
  • Elexacaftor
  • Eliglustat
  • Eluxadoline
  • Encorafenib
  • Entrectinib
  • Enzalutamide
  • Eravacycline
  • Erdafitinib
  • Erlotinib
  • Estetrol
  • Estradiol
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Ethionamide
  • Ethynodiol
  • Etonogestrel
  • Etrasimod
  • Etravirine
  • Everolimus
  • Exemestane
  • Fedratinib
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fentanyl
  • Fexinidazole
  • Finerenone
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fostamatinib
  • Fruquintinib
  • Futibatinib
  • Gefitinib
  • Gepirone
  • Gestodene
  • Gilteritinib
  • Glasdegib
  • Halothane
  • Hemin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Ibrexafungerp
  • Ibrutinib
  • Idelalisib
  • Ifosfamide
  • Imatinib
  • Indinavir
  • Infigratinib
  • Iptacopan
  • Irinotecan
  • Irinotecan Liposome
  • Isoniazid
  • Istradefylline
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ixabepilone
  • Ixazomib
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lamotrigine
  • Lapatinib
  • Larotrectinib
  • Ledipasvir
  • Lefamulin
  • Lemborexant
  • Leniolisib
  • Letermovir
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Linagliptin
  • Lorcainide
  • Lumateperone
  • Lurbinectedin
  • Macimorelin
  • Macitentan
  • Manidipine
  • Maribavir
  • Medroxyprogesterone
  • Meperidine
  • Mestranol
  • Methadone
  • Methotrexate
  • Metoprolol
  • Midostaurin
  • Mifepristone
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mitapivat
  • Mobocertinib
  • Momelotinib
  • Mycophenolate Mofetil
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Naloxegol
  • Neratinib
  • Netupitant
  • Nevirapine
  • Nifedipine
  • Nilotinib
  • Nimodipine
  • Nintedanib
  • Nirogacestat
  • Nomegestrol
  • Norelgestromin
  • Norethindrone
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Olanzapine
  • Olaparib
  • Olutasidenib
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Omeprazole
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Oxycodone
  • Ozanimod
  • Palbociclib
  • Paliperidone
  • Palovarotene
  • Panobinostat
  • Pazopanib
  • Pemigatinib
  • Pentazocine
  • Perampanel
  • Pexidartinib
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimavanserin
  • Piperaquine
  • Pirtobrutinib
  • Pitavastatin
  • Pitolisant
  • Ponatinib
  • Ponesimod
  • Posaconazole
  • Pralsetinib
  • Pretomanid
  • Primidone
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Regorafenib
  • Relugolix
  • Repotrectinib
  • Revefenacin
  • Ribociclib
  • Rimegepant
  • Ripretinib
  • Risperidone
  • Ritlecitinib
  • Rivaroxaban
  • Roflumilast
  • Rolapitant
  • Romidepsin
  • Ruxolitinib
  • Samidorphan
  • Segesterone
  • Selexipag
  • Selpercatinib
  • Selumetinib
  • Sildenafil
  • Simeprevir
  • Siponimod
  • Sirolimus
  • Sirolimus Protein-Bound
  • Sonidegib
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotagliflozin
  • Sotorasib
  • Sparsentan
  • Stiripentol
  • Sufentanil
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tamoxifen
  • Tasimelteon
  • Tazemetostat
  • Telithromycin
  • Temsirolimus
  • Tezacaftor
  • Thiotepa
  • Ticagrelor
  • Tivozanib
  • Tofacitinib
  • Tolvaptan
  • Trabectedin
  • Tramadol
  • Tucatinib
  • Ubrogepant
  • Ulipristal
  • Upadacitinib
  • Valbenazine
  • Vandetanib
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venetoclax
  • Vilazodone
  • Vincristine
  • Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Vonoprazan
  • Vorapaxar
  • Vortioxetine
  • Voxelotor
  • Zanubrutinib
  • Zavegepant
  • Zolpidem
  • Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acetyldigoxin
  • Aliskiren
  • Anisindione
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Atorvastatin
  • Betamethasone
  • Bexarotene
  • Bosentan
  • Buspirone
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carvedilol
  • Caspofungin
  • Chloramphenicol
  • Chlorpropamide
  • Citalopram
  • Clofibrate
  • Cortisone
  • Dicumarol
  • Diltiazem
  • Disopyramide
  • Doxycycline
  • Enalaprilat
  • Enalapril Maleate
  • Etoricoxib
  • Fluconazole
  • Fludrocortisone
  • Gliclazide
  • Glyburide
  • Haloperidol
  • Isradipine
  • Levomethadyl
  • Levothyroxine
  • Linezolid
  • Losartan
  • Mefloquine
  • Metformin
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nisoldipine
  • Ospemifene
  • Phenprocoumon
  • Pioglitazone
  • Pirmenol
  • Prednisolone
  • Prednisone
  • Propafenone
  • Raltegravir
  • Repaglinide
  • Rofecoxib
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Sertraline
  • Simvastatin
  • Tadalafil
  • Theophylline
  • Tocainide
  • Triazolam
  • Trimetrexate
  • Valproic Acid
  • Warfarin
  • Zaleplon
  • Zidovudine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Adrenal gland problems or
  • Blood clotting problems or
  • Diabetes, history of or
  • Liver disease or
  • Porphyria (an enzyme problem) or
  • Vitamin K deficiency—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Alcohol abuse, or history of—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.
  • Liver disease, chronic or
  • Patients with poor nutrition status—Use with caution. May increase risk for vitamin K deficiency, which may lead to excessive bleeding.
  • Meningococcal disease (including infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord [meningitis] and bloodstream [eg, bacteremia, septicemia)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for side effects.

To help clear up your tuberculosis (TB) completely, it is very important that you keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few weeks. If you have TB, you might have to take rifampin every day for several months. It is important that you do not miss any doses.

Take the capsule on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, with a full of glass water. It is important to take this medicine on a regular schedule.

If this medicine upsets your stomach, take it with food. Antacids may also help. However, do not take aluminum-containing antacids (eg, Maalox®, Mylanta®) within 1 hour of the time you take rifampin. They may keep this medicine from working properly.

For patients unable to swallow the capsule:

  • A special liquid form of the medicine can be prepared by your pharmacist.
  • Shake the bottle well before each dose.
  • Measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

If you are taking itraconazole, do not use rifampin 2 weeks before and during itraconazole treatment.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • For the treatment of meningitis bacteria in the nose or throat:
      • Adults—600 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day for 2 days.
      • Children 1 month of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 10 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours for 2 days.
      • Children younger than 1 month of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 5 mg per kg of body weight every 12 hours for 2 days.
    • For the treatment of tuberculosis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 mg per day.
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 10 to 20 mg per kg of body weight once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 mg per day.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If rifampin is taken on an irregular schedule, side effects may occur more often and may be more serious than usual. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

The specially prepared oral liquid form may be kept at room temperature or in a refrigerator for 4 weeks. Do not use the liquid after the expiration date on the label.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use this medicine if you or your child are also receiving lurasidone (Latuda®) or certain medicines to treat HIV infection (eg, atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, ritonavir-boosted saquinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, Aptivus®, Fortovase®, Invirase®, Lexiva®, Norvir®, Prezista®, or Reyataz®).

Do not use this medicine together with praziquantel. If you or your child need to take praziquantel, you should stop using rifampin 4 weeks before starting praziquantel. You may restart rifampin one day after the last dose of praziquantel.

Liver problems may be more likely to occur if you drink alcoholic beverages regularly while you are using this medicine. Also, the regular use of alcohol may keep this medicine from working properly. Therefore, you should strictly limit the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink while you are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have fever, chills, cough, sore throat, swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, or yellow skin or eyes while using this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Serious skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or a skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills with this medicine.

Tell your doctor right away if you have chest pain, cough, coughing or spitting up blood, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, muscle aches, night sweats, sudden high fever, or unusual tiredness. These could be symptoms of a paradoxical drug reaction to this medicine. If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause blood clotting problems, which may lead to bleeding. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child cough up blood, have bleeding gums, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, dizziness, headache, increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding, nosebleeds, prolonged bleeding from cuts, red or dark brown urine, or red or black, tarry stools after using this medicine.

This medicine may cause lung or breathing problems (eg, interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis, pneumonia, respiratory failure, pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome), which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, chills, dry cough, fever, general feeling of discomfort or illness, thickening of bronchial secretions, or trouble breathing.

Rifampin will cause urine, saliva, sputum, sweat, teeth, and tears to turn a reddish-orange to reddish-brown color. This is to be expected while you are using this medicine. This effect may also cause soft contact lenses to become permanently discolored. Standard cleaning solutions may not take out all the discoloration. Therefore, it is best not to wear soft contact lenses while using this medicine. Hard contact lenses are not discolored by this medicine. This condition will return to normal once you stop using this medicine. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

If you or your child develop a skin rash, hives, or any allergic reaction to this medicine, check with your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause thrombotic microangiopathy (damage in the smallest blood vessels), including hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Tell your doctor right away if you have a change in mental status, dark or bloody urine, decreased urine output, difficulty speaking, fever, pale color of the skin, pinpoint red spots on the skin, seizures, severe chest pain, sudden weakness in the arms or legs, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow eyes or skin.

Birth control pills may not work properly while you are using this medicine. To keep from getting pregnant, use another form of birth control together with your birth control pills. Other forms include condoms, diaphragms, or contraceptive foams or jellies.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the doctor in charge that you or your child are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

  1. Agitation
  2. bleeding gums
  3. blood in the urine or stools
  4. bruising
  5. chest tightness
  6. confusion
  7. cough
  8. coughing or vomiting blood
  9. dark urine
  10. darkening of the skin
  11. decreased frequency or amount of urine
  12. difficulty in breathing and swallowing
  13. dizziness
  14. fainting
  15. fast heartbeat
  16. fever with or without chills
  17. general feeling of tiredness or weakness
  18. headache
  19. hives
  20. hoarseness
  21. hostility
  22. increased blood pressure
  23. increased thirst
  24. irritability
  25. light-colored stools
  26. loss of appetite
  27. lower back or side pain
  28. mental depression
  29. nausea
  30. painful or difficult urination
  31. persistent bleeding or oozing from puncture sites, mouth, or nose
  32. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  33. skin itching, rash, or redness
  34. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  35. stomach pain
  36. swelling of the face, ankles, fingers, hands, or lower legs
  37. unusual bleeding or bruising
  38. unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
  39. vomiting
  40. weight gain
  41. yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

  1. Bleeding under the skin
  2. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  3. bloating
  4. bloody, severe, or watery diarrhea
  5. bloody nose
  6. bone pain
  7. chest pain
  8. chills
  9. cold, clammy skin
  10. diarrhea
  11. difficulty with speaking
  12. double vision
  13. dry cough
  14. fast, weak pulse
  15. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  16. heavier menstrual periods
  17. inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
  18. inability to speak
  19. increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
  20. joint or muscle pain
  21. lightheadedness
  22. muscle aches
  23. night sweats
  24. nosebleeds
  25. pale skin
  26. paralysis
  27. pinpoint red spots on the skin
  28. prolonged bleeding from cuts
  29. red or black, tarry stools
  30. red or dark brown urine
  31. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  32. red, irritated eyes
  33. runny nose
  34. shivering
  35. slow speech
  36. sore throat
  37. sores, welts, blisters
  38. sweating
  39. swelling of the fingers, feet, or lower legs
  40. swelling or puffiness of the face
  41. swollen glands
  42. trouble sleeping
  43. unpleasant breath odor
  44. unusual weight loss

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

  1. Blurred vision
  2. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  3. fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  4. feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen or stomach
  5. low blood pressure or slow pulse
  6. pain in the upper abdomen or stomach
  7. reddish-orange to reddish-brown color of the urine, stool, saliva, sputum, sweat, and tears
  8. seizures
  9. swelling around the eyes or face
  10. unconsciousness
  11. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

  1. Feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
  2. feeling that others can hear your thoughts
  3. feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
  4. muscle tenderness, wasting, or weakness
  5. severe mood or mental changes
  6. unusual behavior

Incidence not known

  1. Belching
  2. bloated or full feeling
  3. excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
  4. indigestion
  5. not able to concentrate
  6. pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
  7. tooth discoloration

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.