Drug Notes

Rifampin (By injection)

Rifampin (rif-AM-pin)

Used together with other medicines to treat tuberculosis (TB). This medicine is an antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Rifadin IV

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

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.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• 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 While Using This Medicine:

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.
• Blurred vision or eye pain.
• 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.
• Headache.
• Mild skin rash.
• Muscle or joint pain.

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

Last Updated: 1/27/2017