About rifampin
Rifamycin antibiotic
Used for
- Treats tuberculosis, usually with other medicines.
- Treats some serious bacterial infections, including meningococcal infection prevention.
Usual adult dose
Tuberculosis: usually 10 mg/kg once daily, maximum 600 mg; other uses vary.
Usual dose in children
Tuberculosis: usually 10–20 mg/kg once daily, maximum 600 mg; other uses vary.
Common side effects
- Orange-red discoloration of urine, tears, sweat, or saliva.
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea.
- Liver inflammation or abnormal liver tests.
- Rare severe allergic or skin reactions.
Important warnings
- Can cause serious liver injury; risk increases with liver disease or alcohol.
- Take exactly as prescribed; missed or irregular doses can cause treatment failure or resistance.
- Can discolor contact lenses and permanently stain soft lenses.
- Seek urgent care for jaundice, severe rash, breathing difficulty, or unusual bleeding.
Pregnancy
Use only when clinically needed; tuberculosis treatment may include rifampicin under medical supervision.
Breastfeeding
Generally compatible; small amounts enter milk. It may discolor body fluids, including milk.
Interactions
- Reduces hormonal contraceptive effectiveness; use an additional reliable method.
- Can reduce effects of warfarin, transplant medicines, HIV medicines, and many other drugs.
- Antacids may reduce absorption; separate administration by at least one hour.
- Avoid combining with other liver-damaging medicines unless supervised.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.