Priftin

Generic name: Rifapentine
Drug class: Rifamycin derivatives

Usage of Priftin

Priftin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Priftin is used together with other medicines to treat active tuberculosis (TB) in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.

Priftin is also used to keep inactive (latent) TB from becoming active in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.

Priftin must always be used in combination with other tuberculosis medications.

Priftin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Priftin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Priftin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

low red blood cells (anemia)--pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating; or

low white blood cell counts--fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing.

Priftin can cause changes in the color of your skin or body fluids. You may notice a red-orange appearance of your skin, tears, sweat, saliva, urine, or stools. Your teeth, tongue, or the inside of your mouth may also appear red-orange. This discoloration can permanently stain contact lenses or dentures.

Common side effects of Priftin may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;

flu symptoms;

headache, joint pain;

itching or rash;

eye redness; or

abnormal liver function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Priftin

You should not take Priftin if you are allergic to Priftin, rifabutin (Mycobutin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rimactane, Rifamate).

To make sure Priftin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);

HIV or AIDS;

if you have used rifampin or isoniazid in the past and they were not effective in treating TB; or

if you have been exposed to someone with TB that could not be treated with rifampin or isoniazid.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Priftin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

Priftin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.

It is not known whether rifapentine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine. Rifapentine may cause a red-orange discoloration of breast milk.

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

Relate drugs

How to use Priftin

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take with food.

To make swallowing easier, you may crush the Priftin tablet and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding, applesauce, or other soft food. Swallow this mixture right away. Do not save the mixture for later use.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your TB may get better and then come back if you do not take Priftin as directed. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. This medicine will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using Priftin.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What other drugs will affect Priftin

Many drugs can interact with Priftin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com'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. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com 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.