Rifampin (By injection)
rif-AM-pin
Used together with other medicines to treat tuberculosis (TB). This medicine is an antibiotic.
Drug classes
Antitubercular (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Rifampin injection is used together with other medicines to treat tuberculosis (TB) infections in many different parts of the body. It belongs to the class of medicines called antibiotics and works to kill or prevent the growth of TB. However, rifampin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
This medicine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, rifampin is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Atypical mycobacterial infections, such as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC).
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease).
Prevention of Haemophilus influenzae infection.
Treatment of serious staphylococcal (bacterial) infections.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Injectable
Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.
A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Rifampin interacts with many other medicines. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medicines that you are taking before you receive rifampin. The doses of the other medicines may have to be changed while you are using rifampin.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin®, Chloroptic®), ciprofloxacin (Cipro®), clarithromycin (Biaxin®), cotrimoxazole (Bactrim®, Septra®), digitoxin, digoxin (Lanoxin®), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin®), sulfapyridine, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®), medicines for heart rhythm problems (such as disopyramide, mexiletine, quinidine, tocainide, Mexitil®, Norpace®, Quinora®, or Tonocard®), medicine for blood pressure (such as atenolol, diltiazem, enalapril, metoprolol, nifedipine, propranolol, verapamil, Adalat®, Calan®, Cardizem®, Isoptin®, Procardia®, Toprol®, Vasotec®, or Verelan®), medicine for fungal infections (such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, Diflucan®, Nizoral®, or Sporanox®), or a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®).
Tell your doctor if you are using atovaquone (Mepron®), clofibrate (Atromid®-S), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, or Sandimmune®), dapsone (Aczone®), diazepam (Valium®), doxycycline (Vibramycin®), haloperidol (Haldol®), halothane (Fluothane®), isoniazid (Nydrazid®), levothyroxine (Levoxyl®, Synthroid®), methadone (Dolophine®), probenecid (Benemid®), quinine, tacrolimus, theophylline (Theo-Dur®), zidovudine (Retrovir®), diabetes medicine that you take by mouth (such as glimepiride, glipizide, tolbutamide, Amaryl®, Glucotrol®, or Orinase®), medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, Elavil®, or Pamelor®), narcotic pain relievers (such as morphine, oxycodone, or Oxycontin®), or a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®).
Birth control pills may not work properly while you are receiving 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.
Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine. The risk of having liver problems is increased if you drink alcoholic beverages on a regular basis with this medicine.
When Not To Use
You should not receive this medicine if you or your child have had an allergic reaction to rifampin. You should not receive this medicine if you are also using atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, Aptivus®, Fortovase®, Invirase®, Lexiva®, Norvir®, Prezista®, or Reyataz®. These medicines are used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, an enzyme problem called porphyria, or a history of diabetes.
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.
Rifampin will cause urine, stool, saliva, sputum, sweat, and tears to turn a reddish-orange to reddish-brown color. This is to be expected while you are using this medicine, and everything will return to normal once you stop using it. This effect may cause soft contact lenses to become permanently discolored, so it is best not to wear soft contact lenses while you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause severe tenderness and pain at the place where the injection was given. Contact your doctor right away if you or your child notice any of these side effects at the injection site: bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth.
Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
Bloody or very dark urine.
Decrease in how much or how often you urinate.
Diarrhea that may contain blood.
Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain in your upper stomach.
Numbness, pain, or tingling in your arms or legs.
Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed.
Shortness of breath or troubled breathing.
Unsteadiness or weakness.
Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Diarrhea, heartburn, gas, or stomach upset or cramps.
Dizziness or drowsiness.
Mild skin rash.
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Rifadin IV
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
