Guide To Rifampicin

Precautions To Remember

Before prescribing this medicine, doctors need to know about the patient's medical history. Rifampicin may not be safe for individuals with a history of diabetes, bleeding disorders, porphyria, or liver disease. Using this medicine during the last few weeks of pregnancy could cause bleeding in the mother or baby. Thus, patients should let their doctor know if they are pregnant. This medication is not safe for use in breastfeeding women. Since this medicine may reduce hormonal birth control's effectiveness, patients should use additional methods of contraception during treatment. Rifampicin could cause permanent staining of soft contact lenses. Thus, patients may need to wear glasses while taking this drug.

This medicine could cause inaccurate drug screening results. Thus, individuals having their urine tested should let the facility staff know that they take this medication. Patients may need frequent blood tests while they are on this medication. Specific tests are done to check for infection. Generally, patients continue taking this medication until tests indicate that the infection has cleared. When rifampicin is taken by mouth, patients should do so without food. They can choose to take it one hour before a meal or two hours after a meal. In both cases, they should do so with a full glass of water. It is important to take the entire course of this medication to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Reveal the potential medication interactions next.