Rifampicin is an antibiotic indicated for the treatment of:
- Tuberculosis, always used in combination with other anti-tuberculosis drugs.
- Brucellosis, always used in combination with a tetracycline.
- Non mycobacterial infections: infections other than leprosy and tuberculosis for which your doctor considers appropriate to prescribe rifampicin. You should take this drug in combination with other antibiotics.
Rifampicin is also indicated for prevention of meningococcal meningitis:
You should only take rifampicin if you have been in direct contact with patients with meningococcal meningitis (at home, at day care, school or collective accommodation) and have not yet developed the disease.
Rifampicin not should be used for the treatment of meningococcal meningitis.
Medizzine recommends consult your doctor if you are unsure why has prescribed rifampicin.
Other ingredients of available commercial presentations:
Capsules: In addition to the active ingredient rifampicin, other components include crystallized lactose, calcium stearate.
Oral suspension: Each 100 ml suspension contains 2 g rifampicin (INN). The other ingredients include agar-agar, sucrose, potassium sorbate (E-202), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) propyl paraidroxibenzoato (E-216), sodium metabisulphite (E-223), polysorbate, saccharin, diethanolamine (qs pH = 4.65), raspberry essence, purified water (qs).
Tablets: Besides the active principle rifampin, the other ingredients are: sodium lauryl sulfate, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, calcium stearate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, corn starch, magnesium stearate. Coating: gum arabic (acacia), polyvinylpyrrolidone, aluminic lacquer E 127, titanium dioxide, sucrose, talc, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, colloidal silica and gelatin.
Injectable solution: Each vial contains 600 mg rifampicin (INN) sodium. The other ingredients are: formaldehyde sulfoxylate and sodium and sodium hydroxide, qs pH = 8.4. The composition of the ampoule solvent is water for injection, qs pH = 8.4. The sodium content of this medication i.v. is 0.5 mEq.
Warning:
The composition of the various presentations may vary from one country to another. We recommend you consult the information provided by your local supplier.
Do not use rifampicin
If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to rifampicin or any of the other ingredients of the medicinal product prescribed to you. If you think may be allergic, ask your doctor.
Allergy symptoms may include:
- Asthma attacks with shortness of breath, audible wheezing or rapid breathing.
- More or less sudden swelling of face, lips, tongue or elsewhere in the body. It is especially critical if it affects the vocal cords.
- Hives, itching, rash
- Anaphylactic shock (loss of consciousness, paleness, sweating, etc.).
Nor you should take this medicine:
- If you have a history of hepatitis caused by the use of drugs or acute hepatitis from any origin.
- If you have porphyria,
- If you are taking voriconazole or protease inhibitors.
- If you have severe renal impairment
Take special care with rifampicin
- To prevent the bacterial resistance from happening, rifampin should be used in combination with other antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents.
- If you have serious complications such as changes in blood cells, small purple spots on the skin, difficulty breathing similar to asthma, shock and kidney failure, fever or other skin reactions, your doctor will discontinue treatment.
- If you need resuming treatment after interruption, you must do this by increasing the dose under close medical supervision.
- If you have a chronic liver disease, if you are alcoholic or if you are malnourished, your doctor may reduce the dose of rifampicin.
- When used for prevention of meningococcal meningitis. It should remain under close observation, because, if the disease appears, rifampicin should not be used to treat it.
- If you use hormonal contraceptives as they may reduce the efficacy of these and you will have to take additional contraceptive measures.
- In premature and newborn infants: It will be used only in emergencies and with special cautions as their liver enzyme system is not fully developed.
At the beginning of treatment and in long term treatment, it is recommended to perform regularly blood cell counts and tests of liver function.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including herbal products or drugs obtained without a prescription.
Especially, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:
- tiagabine
- prazicuantel
- atazanavir
- immunosuppressive agents (such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, leflunomide)
- gefintinib
- irinotecan
- meglitinide analogues, including repaglinide and nateglinide
- Imatinib,
- medicines for blood clotting, diabetes, heart and hypertension, epilepsy, nerves, depression, fungal infections and leprosy; other antibiotics, theophylline for asthma, oral contraceptives, steroids,
- drugs that decrease stomach acidity because they reduce the action of rifampicin. It is recommended to administer rifampicin some hours before these drugs.
It is contraindicated the simultaneous use of rifampicin with voriconazole or protease inhibitors.
Your doctor may need to change the dose or duration of treatment of these medicines while taking simultaneously rifampin, or can space the administration of these medicines regarding rifampicin dose.
Use with food and beverages
This medicine should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after meals.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Special physiological situations
Pregnancy and lactation
Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine during pregnancy or lactation.
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, plan to get pregnant or think you are pregnant. Your doctor should asses the risk/benefit ratio before prescribing this medicine during pregnancy or lactation.
Rifampin passes into breast milk, although in small amount. By that reason, rifampicin should not be taken during breastfeeding. Your doctor should asses both possible options (stop breastfeeding or discontinue medication),
Driving and using machines
Rifampin can cause fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness and light-headedness, so before you drive or operate machinery, should know how can affect you taking it.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Follow exactly instructions of use of rifampicin provided by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist when in doubt. Follow the instructions of the physician in preference to those given in this website, which may be different. Ask your doctor to explain any aspect that you do not understand, contained in the instruction leaflet that comes with the medicine.
You should take this medicine on an empty stomach, half an hour before a meal and with a glass of water.
Tuberculosis
Antibiotics currently used in the combined treatment with rifampicin for TB are isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and streptomycin.
Your doctor will tell you the suitable combination of antibiotics for you and the dose of each drug you should take .
Usual doses:
- Adults weighing less than 50 kg: 450 mg of active substance per day.
- Adults weighing 50 kg or more: 600 mg of active substance per day.
- Infants and children: 10-20 mg/kg daily,
- The maximum daily dose is 600 mg rifampicin daily.
Your doctor will tell you the correct frequency with which you should take this drug and duration of treatment.
Brucellosis
The usual dose is 900 mg rifampin as a single dose in the morning on an empty stomach.
Rifampicin must be taken in combination with a tetracycline, such as doxycycline.
The duration of treatment should be about 45 days.
Prevention of meningitis
Usual doses:
- Adults: 600 mg every 12 hours for 2 days.
- Children: 10 mg/kg every 12 hours for 2 days.
- Infants: 5 mg/kg every 12 hours for 2 days.
You should not keep taking rifampicin if the disease has appeared.
Non mycobacterial infections
Usual doses:
- Adults: 600-1200 mg daily divided in 2 doses.
- Infants and children: 10-20 mg/kg daily .
Your doctor will tell you the correct frequency with which you should take this drug and duration of treatment.
Premature and newborn infants: These patients should be treated only in emergency cases and with particular caution.
If you think the effect of the medicine is too strong or too weak, consult your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, rifampicin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The frequency of side effects is classified into:
Very common: affect 1 out of 1-10 patients
Common: affect 1 out of 10-100 patients
Uncommon: affect 1 out of 100-1.000 patients
Rare: affect 1 out of 1.000-10.000 patients
Very Rare: affect less than 1 in 10,000 patients
Incidence not known: Can not be established the true incidence from the available data
Rifampicin may produce a reddish discoloration of body fluids and, commonly, other body secretions such as eg urine, bronchial secretion expelled by mouth (sputum), tears, feces, saliva and sweat. The drug can coloring permanently soft contact lenses.
Skin disorders
Common side effects: Flush, itching with or without rash, urticaria.
Rare side effects: some skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and systemic hypersensitivity reactions, eg. exfoliative dermatitis, Lyell syndrome and pemphigoid reactions.
General disorders
Rare side effects: Collapse, shock, edema.
Eye disorders
Common side effects: Eye redness
Rare side effects: visual disturbances, exudative conjunctivitis
Gastrointestinal disorders:
Common side effects: anorexia, nausea, abdominal pains, bloating.
Uncommon side effects: vomiting and diarrhea.
Very rare side effects: erosive gastritis and pseudomembranous colitis.
Liver disorders:
Common side effects: increase in liver enzymes.
Rare side effects: liver inflammation and jaundice, including serious or fatal liver reactions such as
liver failure and acute fulminant liver inflammation. Induction of porphyria.
Kidney disorders:
Rare side effects: Have been observed interstitial nephritis (kidney inflammation), kidney failure and acute renal failure. which generally are considered as hypersensitivity reactions; These are reversible when rifampin is discontinued and appropriate treatment administered.
Neurologic disorders:
Common side effects: fatigue, drowsiness, headache, dizziness and vertigo.
Rare side effects: uncoordinated movements, confusion, muscular weakness,
Visual disturbances.
Blood disorders:
Very rare side effects: changes in levels of blood cells.
Endocrine disorders:
Very rare side effects: alterations in the menstrual cycle (in extreme cases, absence of menstruation);
Addisonian or adrenal crisis induction..
Side effects that occurs primarily during intermittent therapy or on resumption of treatment after temporary interruption:
If you take rifampin but not daily or resume treatment after a temporary interruption, you could suffer a flu-like syndrome, probably of immunopathological origin.
This flu-like illness is characterized by fever, shivering and possibly headache, dizziness and musculoskeletal pain. In rare cases, the flu syndrome may be followed by changes in the levels of blood cells, small purple spots on the skin, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, shock and acute kidney failure. However, these serious complications could be established without any previous flu-like syndrome, especially if you resume treatment after a temporary interruption or if you take rifampin only once a week in high doses (25 mg/kg or higher)
.
When rifampicin is given at lower dose (600 mg), 2-3 times a week, the syndrome appears less often
This list not includes all adverse reactions associated with the use of rifampicin, both well established as those that are under consideration or confirmation. In case you feel unwell, should immediately consult with the doctor who prescribed this medicine.
If you notice any side effects not listed in this website or in the leaflet accompanying the package, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If any of the side effects gets serious, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
This page contains list of brands of authorized pharmaceutical specialties of the active principle rifampicin in the countries listed below:
[ Australia] [ Brazil] [ Canada] [ France] [ Germany] [ India] [ Italy] [ Japan] [ Korea] [ Mexico] [ Puerto Rico] [ Spain] [ Turkey] [ United Kingdom] [ U.S.A]
Given the nature of the pharmaceutical market, some specialties may be unavailable, have been removed from pharmaceutical market or have changed its name. So that, in no case can take decisions based on the information contained in the page. MEDIZZINE is not responsible for any damage arising from the information provided, which may be incomplete or outdated.
Warning:
With exceptions expressly indicated, these lists do not include active principle associations with other drugs or clinical use containers.
Australia: ▲
RIFADIN 150 mg, capsules
RIFADIN 300 mg capsules
RIFADIN 600 mg, tablets
RIFADIN 20 mg/mL, oral liquid
RIFADIN 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
RIMYCIN 150 mg, capsules
RIMYCIN 300 mg, capsules
Brazil: ▲
RIFACIN 20 mg/ml, 50 ml oral suspension
RIFACIN 300 mg, capsules
Canada: ▲
RIFADIN 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPIN 300 mg, capsules
ROFACT 150 mg, capsules
ROFACT 300 mg, capsules
France: ▲
RIFADINE 20 mg/ml, oral solution
RIFADINE 300 mg, capsules
RIFADINE 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
RIMACTAN 300 mg, capsules
Germany: ▲
EREMFAT 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
EREMFAT 20 mg/ml,granules for oral solution
EREMFAT 150 mg, tablets
EREMFAT 300 mg, tablets
EREMFAT 450 mg, tablets
EREMFAT 600 mg, tablets
RIFAMPICINHEFA N 450 mg, tablets
India: ▲
COXID-450 450 mg, capsules
EUFACIN 150 mg, capsules
EUFACIN 300 mg, capsules
EUFACIN 450 mg, capsules
FANCIN 150 mg, capsules
FANCIN 300 mg, capsules
FANCIN 450 mg, capsules
FANCIN 600 mg, capsules
KEMORIFA 450 mg, tablets
LS-RIF 450 mg, capsules
LS-RIF 600 mg, capsules
MACOX 100 mg, capsules
MACOX 300 mg, capsules
MACOX 450 mg, capsules
MACOX 600 mg, capsules
MONOCIN 300 mg, tablets
MONOCIN 450 mg, tablets
MONOCIN 600 mg, tablets
MONTOMYCIN 450 mg, capsules
R-CIN 150 mg, capsules
R-CIN 300 mg, capsules
R-CIN 450 mg, capsules
R-CIN 600 mg, capsules
R-CIN 20 mg/mL, oral suspension
RIFACEPT 450 mg, capsules
Rifacept 600 mg, capsules
RIFACILIN 150 mg, capsules
Rifacilin 300 mg, capsules
Rifacilin 450 mg, capsules
RIFAMPILA 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPILA 300 mg, capsules
RIFAMPILA 450 mg, capsules
RIFAMYCIN 450 mg, capsules
RIFAPLUS 150 mg, capsules
RIFAPLUS 300 mg, capsules
RIFAPLUS 450 mg, capsules
RIFAPLUS 600 mg, capsules
RIMACTANE 450 mg, tablets
RIMACTANE 150 mg, capsules
RIMACTANE 300 mg, capsules
RIMACTANE 450 mg, capsules
RIMACTANE 20 mg/mL, oral suspension
RIMPACIN 450 mg, capsules
RIMPIN 450 mg, capsules
TAURIF 600 mg, tablets
TICIN 150 mg, tablets
TICIN 300 mg, tablets
TICIN 450 mg, tablets
TICIN 600 mg, tablets
TICIN 20 mg/mL, oral suspension
ZUCOX 300 mg, tablets
ZUCOX 450 mg, tablets
ZUCOX 600 mg, tablets
ZUCOX 300 mg, capsules
ZUCOX 450 mg, capsules
ZUCOX 600 mg, capsules
Italy: ▲
RIFADIN 100 mg/5 ml, 60 ml oral suspension
RIFADIN 300 mg, 8 capsules
RIFADIN 450 mg, 8 tablets
RIFADIN 600 mg, 8 tablets
RIFADIN 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
Japan: ▲
APTECIN 150 mg, capsules
RIFADIN 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN SANDOZ 150 mg, capsules
RIMACTANE 150 mg, capsules
Korea: ▲
BTO RIFAMPICIN 450 mg, tablets
CELLTRION RIFAMPICIN 150 mg, capsules
CELLTRION RIFAMPICIN 300 mg, tablets
CELLTRION RIFAMPICIN 450 mg, tablets
CELLTRION RIFAMPICIN 600 mg, tablets
CJ RIFAMPICIN mg, capsules
KOREAN RIFAMPICIN 150 mg, capsules
KOREAN RIFAMPICIN 450 mg, tablets
KOREAN RIFAMPICIN 600 mg, tablets
KUNWOONG RIFAMPICIN 150 mg, capsules
KUNWOONG RIFAMPICIN 300 mg, capsules
KUNWOONG RIFAMPICIN 450 mg, tablets
KUNWOONG RIFAMPICIN 600 mg, tablets
RIFAMPICIN KORUS 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN KORUS 300 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN KORUS 450 mg, tablets
RIFAMPICIN KORUS 600 mg, tablets
RIFAMPIN 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPIN 300 mg, capsules
RIFAMPIN 450 mg, tablets
RIFAMPIN 600 mg, tablets
RIFODEX 150 mg, capsules
RIFODEX 300 mg, tablets
RIFODEX 450 mg, tablets
RIFODEX 600 mg, tablets
Mexico: ▲
ALFIRAL 300 mg, 8 & 16 capsules
EURIFAM 300 mg, 16 capsules
RIFADIN 300 mg, 16 & 20 capsules
RIFAMPICINA MAVI 100 mg/5 ml, 120 ml oral suspension
RIMACTAN 100 mg/5 ml, 120 ml oral suspension
TURIFAM 300 mg, 12 capsules
Spain: ▲
RIFALDIN 100 mg/5 ml, 120 ml oral suspension
RIFALDIN 300 mg, 24 capsules
RIFALDIN 600 mg, 12 tablets
RIFALDIN 600 mg/10 ml, vial injectable IV
RIMACTÁN 300 mg, 60 capsules
RIMACTÁN 600 mg, 10 & 30 tablets
Turkey: ▲
RIFADIN 100 mg/5 ml, 80 ml oral suspension
RIFADIN 150 mg, 16 capsules
RIFADIN 300 mg, 16 capsules
RIFCAP 100 mg/5 ml, 80 ml oral suspension
RIFCAP 150 mg, 16 capsules
RIFCAP 300 mg, 16 & 60 capsules/p>
United Kingdom: ▲
RIFADIN 100 mg/5 ml, 120 ml oral suspension
RIFADIN 150 mg, capsules
RIFADIN 300 mg, capsules
RIFADIN 600 mg/10 ml, vial injectable IV
RIFAMPICIN AAH PHARMA 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN AAH PHARMA 300 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN ALLIANCE HEALTHC 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN ALLIANCE HEALTHC 300 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN GENERICS 150 mg, capsules
RIFAMPICIN GENERICS 300 mg, capsules
RIMACTSANE 300 mg, capsules
U.S.A. and Puerto Rico: ▲
RIFADIN 150 mg, 30 capsules
RIFADIN 300 mg, 30, 60 & 100 capsules
RIFADIN IV 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
RIFAMPIN AMERICAN HEALTH PACK 150 mg, 30 capsules
RIFAMPIN AMERICAN HEALTH PACK 300 mg, 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN BEDFORD 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
RIFAMPIN BRYANT RANCH PREPACK 300 mg, 20, 30 & 60 capsules
RIFAMPIN CARDINAL HEALTH 300 mg, 10 capsules
RIFAMPIN EONB LABS 150 mg, 30 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN EONB LABS 300 mg, 30, 60 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN H.J. HARKINS 300 mg, 10, 20, 30 & 40 capsules
RIFAMPIN LANNETT 150 mg, 30 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN LANNETT 300 mg, 30, 60 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN MAJOR 300 mg, 50 capsules
RIFAMPIN PFIZER 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
RIFAMPIN PHYSICIANS TOTAL CARE 150 mg, 30 capsules
RIFAMPIN PHYSICIANS TOTAL CARE 300 mg, 15, 20 & 30 capsules
RIFAMPIN REBEL 300 mg, 15, 20 & 30 capsules
RIFAMPIN REMEDYREPACK 150 mg, 30 capsules
RIFAMPIN STAT FLORIDA DOH CENTRAL PHARM 300 mg, 30 capsules
RIFAMPIN UDL 300 mg, 25 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN VERSAPHARM 150 mg, 30 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN VERSAPHARM 300 mg, 30, 60 & 100 capsules
RIFAMPIN VERSAPHARM 60 mg/ml, vial injectable IV
Page updated: December 21, 2010.