Rifampin

What is rifampin?

Rifampin is a medicine called an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent certain types of infections caused by the germs called bacteria. The most common infection that can be treated with rifampin is a lung infection called tuberculosis.

Your child may need to take rifampin with other medicines.

You may hear rifampin called by its brand names, Rofact or Rifadin. Rifampin comes in a capsule. A liquid form of rifampin can be specially made by your pharmacy.

Before giving rifampin to your child

Tell your child's doctor if your child has hypersensitivity to rifampin or any other medicine.

Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if your child has the following condition. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• liver disease

How should you give your child rifampin?

• Give your child rifampin for as long as your doctor ordered, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving rifampin for any reason.
• Give rifampin at the same time every day, exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you. Pick a time that is easy for you and your child so that your child does not miss any doses.
• Give rifampin on an empty stomach with a full glass of water, 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals.
• If rifampin upsets your child's stomach, you may give it with a small glass of milk or a snack.
• Your child should swallow the capsule whole.
• If your child cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open the capsule and mix the powder with a small amount of applesauce or jelly.
• If your child is taking liquid rifampin, make sure you shake the bottle before measuring the dose. The dose should be measured with the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of rifampin?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of rifampin?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take rifampin. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• upset stomach or throwing up
• stomach cramps
• diarrhea

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• a new fever or a fever that does not get better
• chills
• a new sore throat or a sore throat that does not go away
• headache
• skin rash
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• pain in the muscles or bone
• loss of appetite
• yellow skin or eyes
• urinating less or less often

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• unusual bruising or bleeding
• problems breathing
• bloody or cloudy urine

What safety measures should you take when your child is using rifampin?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with rifampin or in some cases the dose of rifampin or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is very important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over-the-counter, natural, or herbal products).

Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.

Keep all appointments at the clinic or doctor's office so that the doctor can check your child's response to rifampin. The doctor may need to change the dose so that your child is getting the right amount.

What other important information should you know about rifampin?

• Your child's body fluids such as urine, bowel movements, sweat, tears, and spit may become a red-orange colour. This is a harmless effect of rifampin. The red-orange colour will go away after stopping rifampin.
• Your child's sweat may stain light-coloured clothing, and contact lenses may become permanently stained. Do not wear soft contact lenses while taking rifampin.
• Your child may require routine tests for his/her liver to make sure rifampin is working as intended.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Keep rifampin capsules and liquid at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Make sure you always have enough rifampin to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep rifampin out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much rifampin, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.