Priftin

Generic Name: rifapentine
Other Brand Names: rifapentine

What is rifapentine?

Rifapentine is an antibiotic. Rifapentine prevents bacteria from multiplying in your body.

Rifapentine is used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

Rifapentine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rifapentine?

Before taking rifapentine, tell your doctor if you have

  • ever had an allergic reaction to rifapentine (Priftin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or rifabutin (Mycobutin); or

  • liver disease.

You may not be able to take rifapentine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Rifapentine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether rifapentine will harm an unborn baby. Do nottake this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether rifapentine passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take rifapentine?

Take rifapentine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

Rifapentine can be taken with food to reduce stomach upset.

For the treatment of tuberculosis, rifapentine is usually combined with one or more other tuberculosis medicines.

Take all of the rifapentine that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated. It is very important to take all of the tuberculosis medications exactly the way that your doctor has prescribed them to prevent a relapse of the infection.

Store rifapentine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of rifapentine?

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of this medication.

Where can I get more information about rifapentine?
Your pharmacist has information about rifapentine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of rifapentine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking rifapentine and seek medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • fever;

  • loss of appetite;

  • a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness;

  • nausea and vomiting;

  • darkened urine;

  • yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes; or

  • pain or swelling of the joints.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take rifapentine and talk to your doctor if you experience

  • red-orange coloration of urine, sweat, sputum, tears, saliva, and other body fluids and/or tissues (contact lenses may become permanently stained);

  • rash or itching;

  • upset stomach or decreased appetite; or

  • headache or dizziness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about rifapentine?

Take all of the rifapentine that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated. It is very important to take all of the medication exactly the way that your doctor has prescribed to prevent a relapse of the infection.

Call your doctor immediately if you experience a fever, loss of appetite, a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness, nausea and vomiting, darkened urine, yellowish discoloration of the skin or eyes, or pain or swelling of the joints.

Rifapentine may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills and other hormonal methods of birth control. Talk to your doctor about other forms of birth control available for use during treatment.

Rifapentine may cause a harmless red-orange coloration of urine, sweat, sputum, tears, saliva, and other body fluids and/or tissues. Contact lenses may become permanently stained.

What should I avoid while taking rifapentine?

Rifapentine may cause a harmless red-orange coloration of urine, sweat, sputum, tears, saliva, and other body fluids and/or tissues. Contact lenses may become permanently stained.

Rifapentine may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills and other hormonal methods of birth control. Talk to your doctor about other forms of birth control available for use during treatment.

If you need to take an antacid, take it 2 hours before or 1 hour after a dose of rifapentine to prevent an interaction from occurring.

What other drugs will affect rifapentine?

Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines during treatment with rifapentine without first talking to your doctor. Rifapentine can interact with many other medicines and dosage adjustments or special monitoring may be necessary if other medicines are taken during therapy.

Rifapentine may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills and other hormonal methods of birth control. Talk to your doctor about other forms of birth control available for use during treatment.

If you need to take an antacid, take it 2 hours before or 1 hour after a dose of rifapentine to prevent an interaction from occurring.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with rifapentine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

What happens if I have an overdose of rifapentine?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a rifapentine overdose are not known.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008