Rifabutin
About Rifabutin
Rifabutin belongs to the group of medicines called anti-tuberculosis drugs primarily used to treat and prevent tuberculosis in individuals dealing with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other body parts such as the kidneys, brain, spine, and bone marrow. HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system and increases the risk of TB infection.
Rifabutin consists of a drug called 'Rifabutin' that comes into 'antimycobacterial'. It works by inactivating a bacterial RNA-polymerase, an enzyme that allows TB bacteria to make and replicate essential proteins. It destroys the bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes TB (tuberculosis), thus treating TB infection.
Take Rifabutin as prescribed by your doctor. You are suggested to take $ame as long as your doctor has prescribed it after checking your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, headache, weakness, muscle pain, heartburn, diarrhea, gas, and numbness or tingling sensation. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before starting Rifabutin, please inform your doctor if you have diabetes, epilepsy, gout, mental health problems, HIV infection, malnutrition, peripheral neuropathy, porphyria, bleeding problems, or kidney or liver problems. Consult your doctor before taking Rifabutin if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Avoid breastfeeding while taking Rifabutin as it passes into breast milk. Rifabutin is not recommended for use in children. Rifabutin may cause dizziness, and vision problems, so drive with caution. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Rifabutin as it could lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and liver damage.
Uses of Rifabutin
Medicinal Benefits
Rifabutin is indicated in patients dealing with TB caused by HIV infection to prevent or slow down the spread of TB infection. Persons who are living with HIV infection are at risk of developing TB. This disease can quickly progress in persons whose immune system is already weakened by the HIV infection, so Rifabutin helps to stop the growth and spread of bacteria responsible for causing and spreading infection. It does so by stopping the synthesis of a protein required by bacteria to grow and spread rapidly.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Rifabutin
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing
- Weakness
- Fever/high temperature
- Pain in the chest
- Muscle pain
- Skin rash
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Numbness
Drug Warnings
A Rifabutin may raise your liver enzymes like ALT and cause jaundice if taken for a longer duration. So, a regular liver function test (LFT) is recommended while taking treatment with Rifabutin. Maintain a gap of one hour between Rifabutin and antacid medicines. Do not take Rifabutin if you are allergic to any of its contents if you have jaundice or take HIV medicines (saquinavir or ritonavir). Avoid foods and drinks containing histamine or tyramine such as cured meat, matured cheese, soya, tuna, salmon, mackerel, wine, and beer while taking Rifabutin as they might cause interaction. Rifabutin may affect the action of some bacterial vaccines like typhoid vaccine, so it is suggested to don't go for any vaccination unless your doctor has suggested you do so.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug interactions: Rifabutin may have interaction with anti-HIV (saquinavir, ritonavir), pain killer (acetaminophen, hydrocodone), anti-depressant (duloxetine, bupropion), calcium channel blocker (diltiazem), anti-TB (ethambutol, pyrazinamide), and vitamins (ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol).
Drug-Food interactions: Do not consume alcohol while taking Rifabutin as it could lead to increased dizziness and liver damage. Avoid foods and drinks containing histamine or tyramine such as cured meat, matured cheese, soya, tuna, salmon, mackerel, wine, and beer while taking Rifabutin as they might cause interaction.
Drug-Disease interactions: Rifabutin may have interactions with colitis (inflammation in the lining of the colon), peripheral neuropathy (numbness and pain in hands and feet), porphyria, hemodialysis, liver toxicity, kidney, and liver dysfunction.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while taking Rifabutin as it could lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and liver damage.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult your doctor if you are pregnant. Your doctor will prescribe Rifabutin only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeRifabutin passes into breast milk. Do not breastfeed while taking Rifabutin. Consult your doctor for further advice.
Driving
cautionRifabutin may cause dizziness, drowsiness, numbness, and tingling sensation in hands and feet. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience these symptoms.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Please consult your doctor before taking Rifabutin if you have liver impairment/liver disease.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this or kidney impairment/kidney disease before taking Rifabutin.
Children
unsafeRifabutin is not recommended for use in children unless prescribed by a child specialist.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Pineapple juice might help soothe the symptoms of cough and cold. It also has anti-inflammatory and mucolytic properties.
- Foods rich in vitamin C, such as kiwi, broccoli, and bell pepper, help improve the immune system.
- Avoid processed and fried foods.
- Warm ginger tea or warm soup can help in providing relief from cough.
- Avoid foods and drinks containing histamine or tyramine, such as cured meat, matured cheese, soya, tuna, salmon, mackerel, wine, and beer.
- Quit smoking and avoid alcohol consumption.
Special Advise
- Rifabutin may affect test results of blood tests such as folate, vitamin B12, and liver function tests. Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Rifabutin.
- Your doctor may advise you to get regular liver tests while taking Rifabutin to check your liver functions.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Tuberculosis (TB): Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that affects the lungs, but it could also spread to other body parts such as the kidneys, brain, spine, and bone marrow. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a contagious disease that can spread to others through small droplets released into the air by a person suffering from tuberculosis. Symptoms include a cough that lasts for a few weeks, pain while coughing or with normal breathing, unexplained fatigue, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, and weight. People who smoke or consume alcohol, people diagnosed with HIV, and immune system problems are more likely at risk of developing active TB.
HIV: It is a virus that weakens and damages the immune system of the body. The body's immune system helps the body fight infection, so weaken the immune system can put a person at high risk of other infections and diseases like TB. This virus is spread by contact with the body fluids of HIV-affected persons to healthy individuals, mostly during unprotected sex, sharing blood, or injection.
FAQs
Rifabutin is used to treat tuberculosis in individuals with HIV infection.
Rifabutin consists of a drug called "Rifabutin" that comes into "antimycobacterial". It works by inactivating a bacterial RNA-polymerase, an enzyme that allows TB bacteria to make and replicate essential proteins. It destroys the bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes TB (tuberculosis), thus treating TB infection.
Do not stop taking Rifabutin despite symptomatic relief. To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Rifabutin for as long as it has been prescribed for you.
Do not take Rifabutin along with antacids as it might decrease the effectiveness of Rifabutin. Maintain a minimum gap of 1hour between both.
Consult your doctor before taking Rifabutin with other medicines. Medicines used to treat TB such as PAS (P-amino salicylic acid) and cycloserine should be taken 8hours apart from Rifabutin.
Rifabutin contains isoniazid which might interact with foods and drinks containing histamine or tyramine such as cured meat, matured cheese, soya, tuna, salmon, mackerel, wine, and beer. Avoid these foods while taking Rifabutin.
Rifabutin might decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (birth control pills). This could lead to an unplanned pregnancy. Instead, use a reliable barrier method of contraception such as condoms or the coil while taking Rifabutin. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this. Your doctor may suggest an alternate contraception method.
Rifabutin may affect the action of some bacterial vaccines like typhoid vaccine, so it is suggested to don't go for any vaccination unless your doctor has suggested you do so.
