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isoniazid and rifampin

Pronunciation: eye so NYE a zid and RIF am pin
Brand: Rifamate

What is the most important information I should know about isoniazid and rifampin?

finish Take all of the isoniazid and rifampin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated.
noalcohol Avoid alcohol while taking isoniazid and rifampin. Alcohol will increase the risk of damage to your liver during treatment with this medication.

Call your doctor immediately if you experience a fever, chills, a sore throat, muscle and bone pain, a headache, excessive tiredness or weakness, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, yellowing of your skin or eyes, darkening of your urine, unusual bleeding or bruising, a rash, or itching.

stomach Take isoniazid and rifampin on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
bcp This medication may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control during treatment.

What is isoniazid and rifampin?

Isoniazid and rifampin are antibiotics. They prevent tuberculous bacteria from multiplying in your body.

Isoniazid and rifampin are used together to treat tuberculosis (TB).

Isoniazid and rifampin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take isoniazid and rifampin?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

  • ever had an allergic reaction to isoniazid or rifampin;
  • disease;
  • liver disease; or
  • porphyria.

You may not be able to take isoniazid and rifampin, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

nopreg It is not known whether isoniazid and rifampin will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
nobrfeed It is also not known whether isoniazid and rifampin will harm a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take isoniazid and rifampin?

Take isoniazid and rifampin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

water Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
stomach Take isoniazid and rifampin on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals.

If nausea occurs, ask your doctor if you can take isoniazid and rifampin with food.

finish Take all of the isoniazid and rifampin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated.

Your doctor may also want you to take a supplemental vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) tablet daily during treatment to prevent numbness and tingling caused by low levels of this vitamin.

rt Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

emt Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of an isoniazid and rifampin overdose include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, dizziness, slurring of speech, yellow skin or eyes, blurred vision, visual hallucinations, seizures, coma, and death.

What should I avoid while taking isoniazid and rifampin?

Do not wear contact lenses while taking isoniazid and rifampin. Rifampin may turn your tears, sweat, saliva, urine, feces, and contact lenses a red-orange color. This effect may be permanent on contact lenses.

bcp This medication may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control during treatment.
noalcohol Avoid alcohol while taking isoniazid and rifampin. Alcohol will increase the risk of damage to your liver during treatment with this medication.

Use caution with the foods listed below. They can interact with isoniazid and rifampin and cause a reaction that includes a severe headache, large pupils, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flushing, sweating, itching, irregular heartbeats, and chest. A reaction will not necessarily occur, but eat these foods with caution until you know if you will react to them. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Eat the following foods with caution:

  • cheeses, including american, blue, boursault, brick, brie, camembert, cheddar, emmenthaler, gruyere, mozzarella, parmesan, romano, roquefort, stilton, and swiss;
  • sour cream and yogurt;
  • beef or chicken liver, fish, meats prepared with tenderizer, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, game meat, meat extracts, caviar, dried fish, herring, shrimp paste, and tuna;
  • avocados, bananas, figs, raisins, and sauerkraut;
  • soy sauce, miso soup, bean curd, and fava beans;
  • yeast extracts;
  • ginseng;
  • chocolate;
  • caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, etc.); and
  • beer (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), red wine (especially Chianti), sherry, vermouth, and other distilled spirits.

What are the possible side effects of isoniazid and rifampin?

emt If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking isoniazid and rifampin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • excessive tiredness or weakness;
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite;
  • yellow skin or eyes;
  • unusual bruising or bleeding;
  • dark urine;
  • little or no urine;
  • numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
  • muscle or bone pain;
  • seizures;
  • blurred vision;
  • fever, chills, or a sore throat;
  • a headache;
  • a rash or itching; or
  • confusion or abnormal behavior.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take isoniazid and rifampin and talk to your doctor if you experience

  • red-orange coloration of tears, sweat, saliva, urine, or feces; or
  • mild tiredness or weakness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect isoniazid and rifampin?

Before taking isoniazid and rifampin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

  • antacids;
  • ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan), or itraconazole (Sporanox);
  • disulfiram (Antabuse);
  • warfarin (Coumadin);
  • carbamazepine (Tegretol);
  • cycloserine (Seromycin);
  • phenytoin (Dilantin), ethotoin (Peganone), and mephenytoin (Mesantoin);
  • meperidine (Demerol);
  • benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and temazepam (Restoril).
  • acetaminophen (Tylenol, others);
  • blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin);
  • barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), secobarbital (Seconal), and butabarbital (Butisol);
  • beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), and metoprolol (Lopressor);
  • heart medicines such as digoxin (Lanoxin), disopyramide (Norpace), quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Cardioquin, others), mexiletine (Mexitil), tocainide (Tonocard), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), and enalapril (Vasotec);
  • corticosteroids such as prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, Meticorten), prednisolone (Delta Cortef, Prelone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and betamethasone (Celestone);
  • sulfonylureas such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), and tolazamide (Tolinase);
  • sulfa medicines such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol, Azo-Gantanol), and sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin, Azo-Gantrisin);
  • the HIV and AIDS medicines delavirdine (Rescriptor), saquinavir (Invirase), ritonavir (Norvir), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), and zidovudine (Retrovir);
  • estrogens such as Premarin, Ogen, Estrace, Menest, Estratab, Ortho-Est, and others;
  • oral birth control pills such as Triphasil, Ortho-Novum, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, Ovral, Lo/Ovral, Desogen, Nordette, Levora, Levlen, Tri-Levlen, Nelova, Norinyl, Brevicon, Ovcon, Loestrin, Demulen, and others;
  • phenytoin (Dilantin), ethotoin (Peganone), and mephenytoin (Mesantoin);
  • theophylline (Theolair, Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theo-Bid, others);
  • methadone (Dolophine);
  • clofibrate (Atromid-S); or
  • cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral).

You may not be able to take isoniazid and rifampin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with isoniazid and rifampin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about isoniazid and rifampin written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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