Precautions and warnings

If you have liver or kidney problems, use caution. Extra care is needed for elderly people, malnourished patients, young children, or those who drink alcohol. You should have regular blood tests and liver function checks. This medicine may turn your body fluids orange-red. Stop taking it if you develop a low platelet count or purple spots on your skin. Use with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding. When giving by IV, make sure the medicine does not leak outside the vein.

Drug Interactions

This medication may speed up how quickly your body breaks down some drugs, which can make those drugs less effective (such as quinidine, phenytoin, and theophylline). When taken with atovaquone, its levels may decrease, while rifampicin levels may increase. Taking ketoconazole with rifampicin can lower the amount of both drugs in your blood. It may also lower levels of enalaprilat, and antacids can reduce how much of this medication is absorbed. The risk of liver damage is higher if it’s taken with halothane or isoniazid.

**Serious Warning:** Taking saquinavir/ritonavir with this medication greatly increases the risk of severe liver damage, which can be fatal.

Contraindications

Do not use if you have allergies (hypersensitivity), jaundice, or serious liver disease. Also, do not use in cases of porphyria. This medication should only be given by intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) injection. It is not meant to treat meningococcal disease.

Mode of actions

Rifampicin works by stopping bacteria from making RNA. It does this by attaching to a part of an enzyme called RNA polymerase (specifically, the beta subunit). By blocking this enzyme, rifampicin prevents the bacteria from starting RNA production, which is needed for the bacteria to grow and survive.

Dosage & Administration

Adult: PO Tuberculosis 10 mg/kg/day or 2-3 times/wk. Max: 600 mg/day. Leprosy 600 mg once mthly.

Prophylaxis against meningococcal meningitis 600 mg twice daily for 2 days. Prophylaxis against meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae 600 mg/day for 4 days.

PO/IV Brucellosis; Legionnaire's disease; Staphylococcal infections 600-1,200 mg/day in divided doses.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Although animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, but during pregnancy, this medicine can be used just when definitely required despite potential risks.

Mothers with a newborn baby who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may seldom create symptoms including drowsiness, muscle stiffness or shakiness, feeding or breathing troubles, constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms of your baby's particularly during their first month, tell the doctor immediately.

This medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

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