Rifampin
Rifampin capsules in four strengths, 150mg, 300mg, 450mg and 600mg, an antibiotic used in tuberculosis treatment and other bacterial infections, in packs of 30 to 180.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150mg | 30 capsules | $31.50 | $1.05 |
| 150mg | 60 capsules | $46.80 | $0.78 |
| 150mg | 90 capsules | $54.00 | $0.60 |
| 150mg | 120 capsules | $57.60 | $0.48 |
| 150mg | 180 capsules | $70.20 | $0.39 |
| 300mg | 30 capsules | $34.80 | $1.16 |
| 300mg | 60 capsules | $58.80 | $0.98 |
| 300mg | 90 capsules | $70.20 | $0.78 |
| 300mg | 120 capsules | $78.00 | $0.65 |
| 300mg | 180 capsules | $84.60 | $0.47 |
| 450mg | 30 capsules | $46.80 | $1.56 |
| 450mg | 60 capsules | $70.20 | $1.17 |
| 450mg | 90 capsules | $81.90 | $0.91 |
| 450mg | 120 capsules | $93.60 | $0.78 |
| 450mg | 180 capsules | $106.20 | $0.59 |
| 600mg | 30 capsules | $58.50 | $1.95 |
| 600mg | 60 capsules | $93.60 | $1.56 |
| 600mg | 90 capsules | $105.30 | $1.17 |
| 600mg | 120 capsules | $117.60 | $0.98 |
| 600mg | 180 capsules | $140.40 | $0.78 |
- Category
- Antibiotics
- Active ingredient
- Rifampin
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule, Injection
- Strengths
- 150/300/450/600mg
You will receive a quality generic, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Tuberculosis · Bacterial infections
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Rifadin
- Therapeutic Class
- Antimycobacterial
- Pharmacological Class
- Rifamycin
- Minor Side Effects
- Urine discolouration, Stomach upset
- Moderate Side Effects
- Nausea, Headache
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule, Injection
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Sanofi
- Onset Time
- 2–4 hours
- Duration
- 12–24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Oral contraceptives, Warfarin, Anticoagulants
What you will receive
Rifampin is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Rifampin.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
Which Rifampin strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Rifampin comes as capsules in 150mg, 300mg, 450mg and 600mg strengths, with packs of 30 to 180 capsules. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
How is Rifampin delivered to Hong Kong?
Rifampin ships by tracked courier in 5 to 9 business days with online tracking, or by standard airmail in 14 to 21 business days, 30 at most, untracked. Every order arrives in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents.
What are the other names for rifampin?
A brand name for rifampin is Rifadin. Rifampin capsules are a pure generic rifampin product and are not that brand.
How long does rifampin take to work?
In TB, the cough, fever and night sweats typically begin to settle after some weeks of treatment, though plenty of bacteria remain at that stage. Active TB is treated for six months or more, and it is the early stop that lets the infection come back.
Can I drink alcohol with rifampin?
Both rifampin and alcohol are processed by the liver, and heavy drinking during treatment makes liver trouble more likely. Keep alcohol light and occasional, and treat yellowing of the skin or eyes as a sign the liver is struggling.
Is rifampin the same as rifampicin?
They are the same antibiotic under two names: rifampin in the United States, rifampicin in Britain, Hong Kong and most other countries. Packs sold here may carry either name, and the milligram strength tells you what you are getting.
Can rifampin treat infections other than TB?
Yes. It is given to close contacts of people with meningococcal meningitis and to household members where there is Hib infection, to stop the germ taking hold. It also joins other antibiotics against some serious staph infections and is used in leprosy treatment.
How long does the orange colour last?
The orange tint is strongest in the hours after a capsule, and it goes on for as long as you take them. It stops for good once the course ends, and it needs no treatment.
About Rifampin
What rifampin treats, and why TB needs a combination
Rifampin — rifampicin in Britain, Hong Kong and most of Asia — kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the germ behind tuberculosis. It blocks a bacterial enzyme the germ needs to copy its genetic material, so the bacteria stop multiplying and the body's defences can clear them. TB germs are slow to shift, so active TB is treated with rifampin alongside other TB antibiotics rather than on its own. The same antibiotic is also given to prevent meningococcal and Hib infections after close contact with a case, and it is part of combination treatment for some serious staph infections.
How to take the capsules
Adults treated for TB usually take one 450mg or 600mg dose a day, at the same time each day, and the 150mg and 300mg capsules are there for smaller doses. An empty stomach works best, an hour before food or two hours after, because a meal (a fatty one especially) cuts how much is absorbed. Active TB takes months to treat. Latent TB, where the germ sits in the body without causing symptoms, needs a shorter spell, and preventing infection after meningococcal contact is brief, usually two days of twice-daily doses. Coming off early because you feel well is how TB gets a second chance. Keep the bottle closed and out of direct sun.
The orange-red colour and everyday effects
Rifampin is itself a red-orange pigment, so urine, sweat, tears and saliva take on that colour for some hours after each capsule. It is harmless and clears once the course is over. Soft contact lenses are the exception, since they can stay stained for good; glasses are the safer choice while you are on it. In day-to-day use, nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhoea, headache and drowsiness are what people report most.
Liver signs and effects to take seriously
Rifampin is handled by the liver, which is why yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, upper abdominal pain or persistent tiredness matter — they are the usual signs the liver is struggling. Fever with chills, aching muscles and a rash can appear when doses are irregular. A sudden allergic reaction, with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, a widespread rash or difficulty breathing, needs urgent treatment.
Medicines that rifampin weakens
Rifampin speeds up the liver's handling of many other medicines, so they can fall to levels too low to work. Hormonal contraceptives are the common example: the pill, patch and ring can all become unreliable. The same applies to warfarin and other blood thinners, some HIV and hepatitis treatments, certain antifungal tablets, digoxin, diabetes medicines and some epilepsy medicines. Alcohol adds to the load on the liver.
Sources
- Tuberculosis (TB) - NHS — NHS
- About Tuberculosis - CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention