Rifater

Rifater is an antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections and to prevent tuberculosis of the lungs. Before taking Rifater, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to rifampin, isoniazid, or pyrazinamide or if you have any other allergies. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, heartburn and/or mild muscle or joint pains.

• Rifater

• IsonaRif
• Rifamate
• Rifater

• Tablet

• By mouth

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, and with a full glass of water. It is important to take this medicine on a regular schedule.

Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.

Your doctor may also want you to take pyridoxine (vitamin B6) every day to help prevent or lessen some of the side effects of isoniazid.

Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, or similar drugs, or if you have meningococcal disease (including infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and bloodstream), liver disease, or acute gout.

This medicine may cause the following problems: Liver problemsSerious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)Eye or vision problemsBleeding problemsLung or breathing problems (including interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis, pneumonia, respiratory failure, pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome)Increased levels of uric acid, which causes symptoms of gout

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, adrenal gland problem, blood clotting problems, diabetes, vitamin K deficiency, or porphyria (an enzyme problem). Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

This medicine may turn your urine, saliva, sweat, teeth, and tears yellow, orange, red, or brown. This is normal. This side effect could also stain contact lenses.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Do not use this medicine if you also take medicine to treat HIV/AIDS, including atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, ritonavir-boosted saquinavir, saquinavir, or tipranavir.

Do not use this medicine together with praziquantel. If you need to take praziquantel, you should stop using this medicine 4 weeks before starting praziquantel. You may restart this medicine one day after the last dose of praziquantel.

Some foods and medicines can affect how rifampin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide work. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:Atovaquone, clofibrate, clopidogrel, cycloserine, cyclosporine, diazepam, digitoxin, disulfiram, efavirenz, haloperidol, indinavir, irinotecan, levodopa, levothyroxine, meperidine, methadone, para-aminosalicylic acid, probenecid, quinine, simvastatin, tacrolimus, tamoxifen, theophylline, ticagrelor, toremifene, zidovudine, zolpidem, zopicloneBirth control pillsBlood pressure medicine (including beta blockers, calcium channel blockers)Blood thinner (including warfarin)Medicine for heart rhythm problems (including disopyramide, mexiletine, propafenone, quinidine, tocainide)Medicine for hepatitis C (including daclatasvir, simeprevir, telaprevir)Medicine for seizures (including carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, valproic acid)Medicine to treat depression (including SSRIs, TCAs)Medicine to treat an infection (including cefazolin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, cotrimoxazole, dapsone, doxycycline, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, moxifloxacin, pefloxacin, telithromycin)Narcotic pain reliever (including morphine, oxycodone)Oral diabetes medicine (including glipizide, glyburide, rosiglitazone)Steroid medicine (including prednisolone)

If you use an antacid, take it at least 1 hour after you take rifampin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide.

If you are taking itraconazole, do not use this medicine 2 weeks before and during itraconazole treatment.

Avoid foods and drinks that are high in tyramine, because your blood pressure could get dangerously high. Your doctor should give you a complete list. In general, do not eat anything aged or fermented, such as most cheese, most alcohol, cured meat (such as salami), sauerkraut, and soy sauce. Check the expiration dates on packages. Tyramine levels get higher as food gets older or if it has not been refrigerated properly.

Avoid eating certain types of fish, including tuna and skipjack, while you are using this medicine.

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness
• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Chest pain, dry cough, muscle aches, night sweats, unusual tiredness
• Joint pain or swelling
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Trouble breathing, coughing up blood, nosebleed
• Blurred vision
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches
• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Headache, dizziness