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Rifater |
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What is Rifater and why is it prescribed? Rifater is a combination antibiotic used to treat the initial phase of tuberculosis. After a 2-month period, your doctor may prescribe another combination of antituberculosis drugs (Rifamate), which can be continued for longer periods. Isoniazid, one of the components of Rifater, sometimes causes liver damage. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop yellowing of the eyes or skin, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. How should you take Rifater? Follow your doctors directions for taking Rifater. Do not stop without consulting your doctor. It is important to take all of the drug prescribed for you, even if you feel better, and not to miss any doses. Take Rifater on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, with a full glass of water. Wait at least 1 hour before taking an antacid, as antacids may interfere with the drug. If needed, your doctor may suggest taking vitamin B6 while you are on Rifater therapy. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take two doses at once. Store Rifater at room temperature. Protect Rifater from moisture. Are there any Rifater side effects? Rifater side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. More common Rifater side effects may include angina, anxiety, bone pain, chest pain, chest tightness, cough, coughing up blood, diabetic coma, diarrhea, difficult breathing, digestive pain, fast, fluttery heartbeat, headache, hepatitis, hives, itching, joint pain, nausea, numbness or tingling of the legs, rash, reddened skin, skin peeling or flaking, sleeplessness, sweating, swelling of the legs, vomiting, and yellowing of skin and eyes. Less common Rifater side effects may include high or persistent fever, ringing in ears, and vertigo. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Rifater? If Rifater is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. Consider another form of birth control if you are taking oral contraceptives, since Rifater lowers their effectiveness. Also check with your doctor before combining Rifater with Antacids (such as Maalox or Tums), Anticonvulsants (such as Dilantin, Depakene, Mysoline, Tegretol), Barbiturates (such as phenobarbital and Nembutal), Blood pressure medicines (such as Inderal, Tenormin, and Vasotec), Blood thinners (such as Coumadin), Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Clofibrate (Atromid-S), Cotrimoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), Cycloserine (Seromycin), Cyclosporine (Sandimmune), Dapsone, Diabetes medications (such as Diabinese and Orinase), Disulfiram (Antabuse), Fluconazole (Diflucan), Haloperidol (Haldol), Heart medications (such Calan, Cardizem, Lanoxin, Norpace, Mexitil, Procardia, Quinidex, and Tonocard), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Levodopa (Sinemet), Narcotic analgesics (such as Darvon, Demerol, Percocet, and Percodan), Nortriptyline (Pamelor), Probenecid (Benemid), Progestins (such as Megace), Steroid drugs (such as Deltasone and Prelone), Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), Theophylline (Theolair, Slo-Phyllin, Theo-Dur), or Tranquilizers (such as Valium and Xanax). Foods such as cheese, fish, and red wine may cause reactions if you are taking a medicine containing isoniazid. Call your doctor immediately if fast or fluttery heartbeat, flushing, sweating, headache, or light-headedness occurs while you are taking Rifater. Are there any special warnings about Rifater? Rifater may cause your urine, sputum, sweat, and tears to turn a red-orange color. This is to be expected and is not harmful. The drug may also permanently discolor contact lenses. Since Rifater may cause eye problems, you should have a complete eye examination before starting therapy and periodically during Rifater treatment. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink while on this medicine. Daily users of alcohol may be more prone to liver problems. Use this medicine with caution if you have diabetes or kidney disease. When rifampin, one of the drugs in Rifater, is taken at high doses (more than 600 milligrams) once or twice a week, it is likely that side effects may increase, including "flu-like" symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, weakness, upset stomach, and shortness of breath. |
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