Details

Rifabutin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. Rifabutin is used to prevent mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Rifabutin is also used with other medicines to treat tuberculosis in people with HIV. You should not use rifabutin if you are allergic to it, or if you have active tuberculosis or if you are allergic to rifapentine or rifampin. To make sure rifabutin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease liver disease or a history of an eye condition called uveitis.

Typical Uses

Rifabutin is used alone or with another medication to help prevent a certain serious infection (Mycobacterium avium complex-MAC). Rifabutin is known as a rifamycin antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats and prevents 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. Rifabutin also be used with other medications to treat active MAC infection and to treat active tuberculosis (TB) infection. It may also be used alone or with another medication to prevent active TB infections in people who may be infected with the bacteria (people with positive TB skin test).

Side Effects

Common rifabutin side effects may include severe stomach pain, diarrhoea that is watery or bloody severe eye redness, small white or yellow patches on the surface of your eye or low white blood cell counts-fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing.

Drug Interactions

• Rifabutin+anisindione- Ask your doctor before using anisindione together with rifabutin. This combination may reduce the effects of anisindione. Call your doctor promptly if you have any signs of blood clots such as chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden loss of vision, or pain, redness or swelling in an extremity. You may need a dose adjustment in addition to testing of your prothrombin time.
• Rifabutin+bedaquiline- Talk to your doctor before using bedaquiline together with rifabutin. Combining these medications may reduce the blood levels of bedaquiline, which may decrease its effectiveness in treating tuberculosis. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications.
• Rifabutin+cyclosporine- Using cyclosporine and rifabutin together can make cyclosporine less effective. Given the risk of organ rejection associated with low cyclosporine levels, caution is advised if cyclosporine must be taken with rifabutin. You may need a dose adjustment or special test if you take both medications.
• Rifabutin+deferiprone- Deferiprone can lower white blood cell count, and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as rifabutin may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.

Mechanism of action

Rifabutin is an antibiotic that belongs to class of drugs called rifamycins. It works by killing the infection causing bacteria and preventing the bacterial growth and its reproduction.

Pregnancy Category : B