Rifabutin (By mouth)

rif-a-BUE-tin

Helps prevent Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in patients with HIV.

Drug classes

Antitubercular (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Rifabutin is used to help prevent Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease from causing disease throughout the body in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. MAC is an infection caused by two similar bacteria, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. Mycobacterium avium is more common in patients with HIV infection. MAC also may occur in other patients whose immune system is not working properly. Symptoms of MAC in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) include fever, night sweats, chills, weight loss, and weakness. Rifabutin is an antibiotic and works to kill or prevent the growth of certain bacteria. It will not help against viruses.

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

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, rifabutin is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:

Treatment of tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Capsule

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

You may take the medicine with or without food. If the medicine upsets your stomach, you may want to take it with food.

Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

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

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

There are many other drugs that can interact with rifabutin. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you are using, especially blood thinners (such as warfarin), medicine to treat an infection, or medicine to treat HIV.

This medicine may make birth control pills or patches less effective. Ask your doctor if you should change birth control or use 2 methods together.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to rifabutin, rifampin, rifamycin, or rifapentine.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or eye or vision problems.

This medicine may cause your skin, tears, saliva, sweat, urine, or bowel movements to turn a brownish-orange color. Your contact lenses could become permanently discolored.

This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine.

This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

This medicine should not be given to patients with active tuberculosis (TB). If you think you may have active TB, tell your doctor.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

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

Blurred vision or loss of vision, eye redness, pain, or sensitivity to light

Diarrhea that may contain blood

Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches

Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

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

Mycobutin

There may be other brand names for this medicine.