Rifampicin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Rifampicin?

What is rifampicin for?

Rifampicin is a rifamycin antibiotic drug with a function to treat various infections, such as:

• tuberculosis (TB)
• leprosy
• legionnaires's disease
• brucellosis and serious staphylococcal infections

This medicine can also be given to carriers, ie people who may be infected but have no symptoms of infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae (which causes flu) and Neisseria meningitidis (which causes meningitis).

Rifampicin dosage and rifampicin side effects will be described further below.

How do I use rifampicin?

Rifampicin is a capsule that is consumed only by mouth. This medicine should be taken with a full glass of water on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating. Take rifampicin once a day to treat tuberculosis. Rifampicin is taken twice a day for two days to prevent the spread of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria to others. Follow the directions for use on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to describe any parts you do not understand. Take rifampicin exactly as recommended. Don't take more or less than the recommended level or take it more often than your doctor has recommended.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are unable to swallow the capsules. Your pharmacist may change the dose of the capsule in liquid form for you as an alternative.

If you are taking rifampicin to treat tuberculosis, your doctor may recommend that you regularly take rifampicin for several months or more. Continue to use the rifampicin for the lifetime indicated on the prescription even if you feel better, and be careful not to miss a dose. Stopping rifampicin doses too early will put you at risk of infection, becoming drug resistant (resistant) and more difficult to treat. If you miss a dose of rifampicin, you may experience uncomfortable or serious symptoms when you restart using this drug.

How do you store rifampicin?

This medicine should be stored in the refrigerator. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug can have different storage rules. Pay attention to the storage instructions on the packaging of your product, or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Rifampicin dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the rifampicin dose for adults?

Usual adult dosage for Tuberculosis (along with other drugs)

Weight <50 kg:

The daily dose is 450 mg

Weight> 50 kg:

The daily dose is 600 mg

The usual adult dosage for leprosy (along with other drugs)

Weight <50 kg:

The daily dose is 450 mg

Weight> 50 kg:

The daily dose is 600 mg

A single dose of 600 mg once a month can be given.

Common adult dosage for Legionnaires disease, brucellosis, and serious staphylococcal infections (along with other medications)

The recommended daily dose is 600 mg -1200 mg in 2 to 4 part doses throughout the day.

The usual adult dosage for the prevention of meningococcal meningitis

The recommended dose is 600 mg twice daily for 2 days

Usual adult dosage for prevention of Haemophilus influenzae infection

Adults and children> 1 month

For household members affected by infection, the recommended daily dose is 20 mg / kg body weight, up to a maximum of 600 mg, once daily for 4 days.

Children <1 month

The recommended dose is 10 mg / kg body weight, once daily for 4 days.

Elderly

Your doctor will probably give you a lower dosage than the ones mentioned above.

What is the dose of rifampicin for children?

Usual child dosage for Tuberculosis (along with other drugs)

Children> 3 months:

The recommended daily dose is 15 (10-20) mg / kg of body weight, up to a maximum of 600 mg.

Common doses of children for leprosy (along with other drugs)

For the paucibacillary form, rifampicin should be given with dapsone for a period of 6 months. For the multibacillary form, rifampicin should be given with dapsone and clofazimine for a period of 12 months.

The recommended dosage is:

Age> 10 years: 450 mg once a month.

Age <10 years: 10 to 20 mg / kg body weight, once a month.

Typical children's dosage for Legionnaires disease, brucellosis, and serious staphylococcal infections (along with other medications)

Children> 1 month of age: 10 mg / kg of body weight every 12 hours for 2 days.

The dose should not exceed 600 mg / dose.

Usual child dosage for prevention of Haemophilus influenzae infection

Children> 1 month old

For household members affected by infection, the recommended daily dose is 20 mg / kg body weight, up to a maximum of 600 mg, once daily for 4 days.

Children <1 month of age

The recommended dose is 10 mg / kg body weight once a day for 4 days.

In what dosage is rifampicin available?

• Capsule, oral: 150 mg; 300 mg
• Solution, intravenous: 600 mg (1EA)

Rifampicin side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to rifampicin?

Rifampin can cause side effects. Your urine, sweat, phlegm, and tears can turn purple or red; this effect is harmless.

Tell your doctor if any of the following symptoms get worse or don't go away:

• itchy
• red and hot skin
• headache
• sleepy
• dizzy
• lack of coordination
• hard to concentrate
• dazed
• changes in behavior
• muscle weakness
• pain in the arms, hands, soles of the feet, or feet
• heartburn (an uncomfortable warm and burning sensation in the chest)
• stomach cramps
• diarrhea
• gas
• painful or irregular menstrual periods
• vision changes

Some of the side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:

• rash
• itchy rash
• fever
• scuffed
• swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• nausea
• gag
• loss of appetite
• dark urine
• joint pain or swelling
• yellowing of the skin or eyes

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Rifampicin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using rifampicin?

Do not use Rifampicin if you:

• allergic to rifampicin or other rifamycin antibiotics, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• have jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
• are currently taking saquinavir or ritonavir. Liver problems will arise if you also take rifampicin at the same time

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Rifampicin if you:

• have a problem with the liver, or have a similar medical history
• have kidney problems and are taking more than 600 mg of rifampicin per day
• diabetes; your diabetes may become more difficult to control
• have a rare blood problem called porphyria
• are underweight, elderly, have liver problems or are under 2 years of age and are also taking isoniazid - your doctor can check your liver function
• wear contact lenses. Taking Rifampicin can cause permanent stains on contact lenses

Blood test

Your doctor will need to check your blood before you take this medicine. Blood tests will help your doctor to find out any changes that may occur in your blood after taking this medicine. You may also need to have regular blood tests to check how your liver is working.

It is possible that rifampicin could affect the results of some blood tests. If you need a blood test to check bilirubin, folic acid or vitamin B12, tell your doctor if you are taking rifampicin as it may affect the results of your treatment.

Is rifampicin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = Not at risk

B = No risk in several studies

C = May be risky

D = There is positive evidence of risk

X = Contraindicated

N = Unknown

Rifampicin Drug Interactions

What drugs may interact with rifampicin?

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur. In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently or have recently finished taking other drugs, including non-prescription drugs, such as:

• anticoagulants to thin the blood, for example warfarin
• anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids) for example prednisolone
• drugs used after an organ transplant, for example cyclosporine, sirolimus; the drug tacrolimus to treat heart conditions for example. digoxin, digitoxin, quinidine, disopiramid, mexiletine, propafenone, tocainide, calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil, nimodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nisoldipine)
• drugs to lower blood pressure, for example bisoprolol, propranolol, losartan, enalapril
• diuretics (water tablets), such as eplerenone
• antidiabetic drugs, eg chlorpropamide, tolbutamide, glyclazide, rosiglitazone
• antiepileptic, for example phenytoin
• strong painkillers, eg morphine, methadone
• sedatives (sleeping pills) or medications for anxiety, for example amobarbital, diazepam, zopiclone, zolpidem
• inhibitor drugs, for example tamoxifen, toremifene, gestrinone
• supplements that contain hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, for example hormonal contraceptives. If you are taking oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy while you are taking rifampicin, the contraception may not be effective
• thyroid medication, for example levothyroxine
• drugs for mental disorders, eg haloperidol, aripiprazole
• antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, nortriptyline
• antibiotics to treat infections, eg dapsone, chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, telithromycin
• anti-fungal medications, eg fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole
• anti-viral drugs, eg saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, efavirenz, amprenavir, nelfinavir, atazanavir, lopinavir, nevirapine
• praziquantel, for helminth infections
• drugs to lower levels of fat (cholesterol, triglycerides) in the blood, for example simvastatin, clofibrate
• cancer drugs, for example irinotecan, imatinib
• quinine, often used for cramps
• riluzole, used in motor neuron disease (MND)
• theophylline, for asthma
• anti-emetic, for example ondansetron
• atovaquone, for malaria or pneumonia
• antacids, used for indigestion. Use Rifampicin at least 1 hour before taking antacids.
• other medicines used for tuberculosis, such as isoniazid or p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS). PAS and Rifampicin must be taken separately at intervals of at least 8 hours.

Can food or alcohol interact with rifampicin?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with rifampicin?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems.

Rifampicin overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.