Priftin oral

This medication is used with other medications to treat active tuberculosis (TB) of the lungs. It may also be used with another medication (isoniazid) to prevent active TB infections in people who are infected with the bacteria (people with positive TB skin test). Rifapentine is known as a rifamycin antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.

This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness.

How to use Priftin

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking rifapentine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice weekly. Taking this medication with food will help to decrease side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting and also increase the absorption of this medication.

The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, and response to treatment.

For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you 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 to take 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 may allow the bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a return of the infection and cause the infection to be more difficult to treat (resistant).

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell 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. However, dentures and contact lenses may be permanently stained.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: symptoms of liver disease (such as persistent nausea/vomiting, unusual tiredness/weakness, severe stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine), painful/swollen joints, dark/bloody urine, easy bleeding/bruising, unusual tiredness, signs of a new infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat).

This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a type of resistant bacteria. This condition may occur during treatment or weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have any of the following symptoms because these products may make them worse. Tell your doctor right away if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking rifapentine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other rifamycins (such as rifampin); 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, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: HIV infection, a certain blood disorder (porphyria), liver disease, alcohol use.

Alcohol may increase the risk of liver disease. Avoid alcoholic beverages while using this medication.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Rifapentine may cause live bacterial vaccines (such as typhoid vaccine) to not work as well. Do not have any immunizations/vaccinations while using this medication unless your doctor tells you to.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. When this drug is taken during the last few weeks of pregnancy, the risk of bleeding in both mother and infant may be increased. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any bleeding in your newborn. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is unknown if rifapentine passes into breast milk. However, similar drugs pass into breast milk. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any 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 asunaprevir, digoxin, phenytoin, ranolazine, tacrolimus, "blood thinners" (such as warfarin), calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem, verapamil), HIV NNRTIs (such as etravirine, nevirapine), HIV protease inhibitors (such as atazanavir, darunavir), among others.

This medication may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while using this medication. Also tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding, because these may be signs that your birth control is not working well.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including folate and vitamin B12 levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. 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 (such as sputum test, liver function, bilirubin levels, complete blood count) 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 right away to establish a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications 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.Information last revised February 2017. Copyright(c) 2017 First Databank, Inc.