Rifapentine – oral, Priftin

Medication Uses How To Use Side Effects Precautions Drug Interactions Overdose Notes Missed Dose Storage USES: This medication is used with other medications to treat tuberculosis (TB) of the lungs. Rifapentine is a rifamycin antibiotic. It stops the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections like the common cold or flu. Misuse of any antibiotic can reduce its effectiveness. HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth with food, once or twice weekly, or as directed by your doctor. Taking it with food helps decrease side effects like stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting, and increases absorption. The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, and treatment response. Antibiotics work best when the medicine in your body is constant. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To remember, take it on the same day(s) of the week and at the same time each day. Mark the days on the calendar when you need to take the medication. Continue taking this medication (and other TB medications) until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear. Stopping the medication too early or skipping doses allows bacteria to continue growing, making the infection harder to treat. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens. SIDE EFFECTS: Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or headache may occur. If these effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor or pharmacist promptly. This medication may cause urine, sweat, saliva, or tears to turn reddish. This effect is harmless and will disappear when the medication is stopped, but dentures and contact lenses may be permanently stained. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Inform your doctor immediately if any unlikely but serious side effects occur: symptoms of liver disease, painful/swollen joints, dark/bloody urine, easy bleeding/bruising, unusual tiredness, signs of a new infection. This medication may rarely cause severe intestinal conditions. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have any of the following symptoms, as they may make them worse. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool. A severe allergic reaction to this drug is rare, but seek immediate medical attention if you notice symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching/swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of any other effects not listed above.

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking rifapentine, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or other rifamycins, or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, inform your doctor or pharmacist of your medical history, especially if you have HIV infection, a certain blood disorder, liver disease, or alcohol use. Alcohol may increase the risk of liver disease, so avoid alcoholic beverages while using this medication. Before having surgery, inform your doctor or dentist about all the products you use. Rifapentine may cause live bacterial vaccines to work less effectively. Therefore, do not have any immunizations/vaccinations while using this medication without the consent of your doctor. Use this medication during pregnancy only when clearly needed. When taken in the last few weeks of pregnancy, it may increase the risk of bleeding in both mother and infant. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any bleeding in your newborn. It is unknown if rifapentine passes into breast milk, but similar drugs do. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before breastfeeding. DRUG INTERACTIONS: The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. Inform your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines without your doctor’s approval. Rifapentine can speed up the removal of other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include cyclosporine, digoxin, phenytoin, ranolazine, tacrolimus, theophylline, "blood thinners," calcium channel blockers, and HIV medications. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control methods. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while using this medication. It may also interfere with certain laboratory tests, possibly causing false results. Make sure your healthcare providers know you use this drug. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use and share it with your doctor and pharmacist to reduce your risk for serious medication problems.

QUESTION

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. NOTES: Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. MISSED DOSE: For the best possible benefit, it is important to take each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose and remember on the same day, take it as soon as you remember. If you remember on the next day or later, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. STORAGE: Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product. Information last revised March 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.