This article describes possible side effects of rifampin oral capsule. You can explore this overview article to learn more about rifampin, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Rifampin oral capsule is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Rifampin also comes in an injectable (IV) form, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about the injectable form of rifampin, talk with your doctor.
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More common side effects of rifampin
Rifampin oral capsule may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of rifampin oral capsule include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of rifampin in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of rifampin
Rifampin may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of rifampin oral capsule that have been reported include:
- heartburn
- nausea
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- gas
- stomach cramps
- headache
- fever
- drowsiness (sleepiness)
- loss of balance
- dizziness
- problems concentrating
- muscle weakness
- pain in the arms and legs
- numbness
- vision changes
- changes in menstrual periods
- skin reactions, including flushing or itching with or without a rash
- discoloration of bodily fluids or teeth*
- mild allergic reaction*†
Rifampin oral capsule may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of rifampin in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with rifampin oral capsule. But it’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies.
Serious side effects of rifampin
Rifampin may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from rifampin oral capsule, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with rifampin.
Serious side effects of rifampin oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
- liver damage*
- serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
- low blood platelet count
- low white blood cell count
- bleeding problems
- lung or breathing problems
- psychosis
- kidney problems
- paradoxical reactions*†
- swelling of the face, arms, or legs
- flu syndrome, which includes symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, dizziness, and bone pain
- decrease in blood pressure
- severe allergic reaction*‡
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of rifampin in detail” section below.
† Paradoxical reactions are possible with rifampin oral capsule. But they weren’t reported in the drug’s studies.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible with rifampin oral capsule. But it’s unclear whether this occurred in the drug’s studies.
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Get free cardCommon questions about side effects of rifampin
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of rifampin oral capsule. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do side effects of rifampin compare with those seen with isoniazid?
Rifampin and isoniazid are both medications used to treat tuberculosis (TB). However, isoniazid can be used alone to treat TB, while rifampin must be taken with other drugs.
Rifampin and isoniazid may cause similar mild side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort. But isoniazid also commonly causes peripheral neuropathy (damage to your nerves in the arms and legs).
While both drugs increase the risk of serious liver problems, isoniazid has a boxed warning for the risk of hepatitis. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
If you have more questions about how the side effects of these medications compare, talk with your doctor.
Is weight gain a side effect of rifampin?
Typically, no. Weight gain wasn’t reported in studies of rifampin. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t occurred or won’t be reported sometime in the future.
If you have concerns about rifampin’s effects on your weight, talk with your doctor.
Does rifampin cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases rifampin oral capsule may cause long-term side effects. These can last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with rifampin oral capsule include:
- liver damage
- lung or breathing problems
- discoloration of teeth
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of rifampin may last.
Side effects of rifampin in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of rifampin oral capsule.
Liver damage
Rifampin can increase the risk of mild to severe liver damage, including liver failure and death.
With liver damage, you can experience symptoms such as:
- unexplained tiredness
- yellowing of your skin or eyes
- abdominal pain or swelling
- nausea or vomiting
- confusion
Certain factors can increase the risk of liver problems with rifampin oral capsule. These include:
- alcohol use
- taking other drugs that cause liver problems
- history of liver disease
- taking rifampin for a long time
Ways to manage
Due to this risk, your doctor may order blood tests to monitor your liver health before and during treatment. If you experience symptoms of liver damage, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend you stop taking rifampin.
Discoloration of teeth and body fluids
Rifampin may discolor your teeth, urine, sweat, spit, saliva, or tears. They can turn yellow, orange, red, or brown. In general, this side effect is temporary and will go away once you finish treatment. But in some cases, your teeth or soft contact lenses can be permanently stained.
Ways to manage
If you have concerns about the risk of discoloration of bodily fluids, tell your doctor. They can discuss alternative treatments with you or strategies to minimize this side effect.
Paradoxical reactions
Although this side effect wasn’t reported in studies, there have been reports of paradoxical reactions to rifampin oral capsule after the drug was approved for use.
Paradoxical reactions are unexpected reactions to a drug, specifically the opposite of improving with treatment. This may include recurrence or the appearance of new signs or symptoms. These signs and symptoms may appear after initial improvement from the infection. They are also not caused by a side effect, new infection, drug resistance, or adherence to the medication.
Ways to manage
If you experience paradoxical reactions to rifampin oral capsule, tell your doctor. They’ll help determine the cause of these reactions and treat the symptoms accordingly.
Allergic reaction
For some people, rifampin oral capsule can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to rifampin oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for rifampin
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking rifampin oral capsule.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take rifampin oral capsule if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether rifampin oral capsule is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking rifampin oral capsule, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- history of liver, lung, or breathing problems
- alcohol use
- taking blood thinner medications
- past allergic reaction to rifampin
Rifampin and pregnancy
It’s not known whether rifampin oral capsule should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Rifampin and breastfeeding
Rifampin oral capsule should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with rifampin.
Rifampin and alcohol
Rifampin oral capsule is not known to interact with alcohol.
But your doctor may still recommend you avoid drinking alcohol while taking rifampin oral capsule. Rifampin and alcohol can both cause serious liver damage. If they’re taken together, your risk of liver damage is even higher.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with rifampin oral capsule.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of rifampin oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Will taking a higher dosage of rifampin increase the risk of tooth discoloration?
- How much weight can I lose while taking rifampin?
- Is the risk of serious skin reactions the highest when I first start treatment?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.