Rifapentine

Rifapentine is used to treat active tuberculosis (TB; a serious infection that affects the lungs and sometimes other parts of the body) and latent (resting or nongrowing) TB). Rifapentine is in a class of medications called antimycobacterials. It works by killing the bacteria that cause infection.

Antibiotics such as rifapentine will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Rifapentine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is taken with food once or twice weekly.

Take rifapentine at around the same time every scheduled day.

Take rifapentine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If you are unable to swallow the tablets, you can crush them and mix the medication in a small amount of semisolid food such as pudding or applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away; do not store it for later use.

Rifapentine will likely be prescribed with other medications. It is important that you take all the medications you were prescribed for tuberculosis in order for the medicines to work their best.

Continue to take rifapentine until you finish the prescription even if you feel better, and be careful not to miss doses. If you stop taking rifapentine too soon, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics. If you miss doses of rifapentine, you may develop uncomfortable or serious symptoms when you begin to take the medication again.

Tell your doctor if you feel that your tuberculosis symptoms (cough, chest pain, tiredness, fever, chills, night sweats, lack of appetite) have returned or worsened at any point during treatment.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking rifapentine,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had. 
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking rifapentin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you are taking or using hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections). Rifapentine can decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. You should use another method of birth control while taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about birth control while taking rifapentine.
• tell your doctor if you have active TB or if you were unresponsive to other TB medications or if you have or have ever had porphyria (condition in which certain natural substances build up in the body and may cause stomach pain, changes in thinking and behavior, or other symptoms), HIV infection, or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking rifapentine, call your doctor.
• do not breastfeed while taking rifapentine. Rifapentine may cause breast milk to turn reddish-orange.
• tell your doctor if you wear soft contact lenses or dentures. Rifapentine may cause permanent red stains on your contact lenses or dentures.
• plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Rifapentine may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Rifapentine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• temporary discoloration (yellow, reddish-orange, or brown color) of your skin, teeth, saliva, urine, stool, sweat, and tears
• dizziness
• fainting
• increased sweating
• red, itchy, or irritated eyes

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• diarrhea (up to 2 months after your treatment), abdominal pain, fever
• rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; shortness of breath; swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat; weakness; tiredness; fever; nausea; vomiting; headache; chills; aches; sweating; dizziness; cough; chest pain; feeling of racing heart or skipped heart beats; blisters; sores on mouth, lips, or throat
• swelling of the , arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, joint pain or swelling, yellowing of the skin or eyes
• severe abdominal pain, reddish urine, painful skin blisters, changes in thinking and behavior, nausea, constipation, feeling of racing heart

Rifapentine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• blood in urine
• itching
• body pain or stiffness

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to rifapentine.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking rifapentine.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

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