This belongs to the group of medicines known as antituberculosis drugs.

Rifampin is used to treat infections, including tuberculosis. It can also be used to prevent infections in those who have been in contact with serious infections.

Rifampin is available in capsule, oral liquid and injection form.

It is also sometimes known as: Rifadin; Rimactane. You may notice the use of any of these names on the packaging of your medicine.

Why is this drug prescribed?

This drug contains three different compounds which act together to kill bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Rifampicin targets and inactivates a bacterial chemical called RNA-polymerase. The tuberculosis bacteria use RNA-polymerase to make essential proteins and to copy their own genetic information. Without this chemical the bacteria cannot reproduce and they die. Isoniazid's exact mechanism of action is unknown but it is thought to prevent the bacteria from making components called mycolic acids which are needed to form cell walls. It also seems to combine with an enzyme which interferes with the cell metabolism of the bacteria. As a result of the disruption in it's metabolism and without a cell wall the bacteria die. Pyrazinamide when it enters a tuberculosis infected cell sets off a chain of chemical reactions that kills the bacteria. There are two stages in the treatment of tuberculosis. In the first two months after infection, treatment is aimed at killing as many bacteria as possible. Therefore several anti-TB drugs with different mechanisms of action are used in combination. After this time some of the drugs are stopped and the others are continued for a further four months to kill any remaining bacteria. Rifampicin and isoniazid are used in both stages of treatment whilst pyrazinamide is used in the inital phase of treatment only. The bacteria that cause TB are difficult to treat. By using drugs in combiation, the bacteria can be targeted in different ways and hence treatment is more likely to be effective than a single drug alone. In addition, using different drugs make it less likely that bacteria will develop resistance to treatment. As the period of treatment is long the combination of the three drugs in one tablet helps compliance with the treatment.

Treatments

* Initial treatment of TB

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Itching * Diarrhoea * Allergy to active ingredients * Red colouration of urine * Yellowing of the skin and eyes * Seizures * Alteration in results of liver function tests * Loss of contact with reality * Excessive breakdown of red blood cells that reduces red blood cell count * Cold or flu-like symptoms * Rash * Inflammation of the liver * "Pins and needles" sensation in hands and feet * Pain in the joints * Loss of appetite * Shortness of breath * Sudden severe deficiency in the number of white blood cells in the blood * Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood * Inflammation of the optic nerve which results in blurring of vision * Kidney failure