Compliance

Compliance with the full course of therapy must be emphasized to the patient, and the importance of not missing any doses of the daily administered companion medications in the Initial Phase must be stressed.

Drug Interactions

Rifapentine may increase the metabolism and decrease the activity of other drugs that are metabolized by the P4503A4 and 2C8/9 pathways. Dosage adjustments of the co-administered drugs may be necessary. Patients should be advised to discuss with their physician the other medications they are taking before starting treatment with rifapentine.

Concomitant use of rifapentine with protease inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors may cause a significant decrease in plasma concentrations and loss of therapeutic effect of the protease inhibitor or reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

Rifapentine may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Therefore, patients using oral, transdermal patch, or other systemic hormonal contraceptives should be advised to change to non-hormonal methods of birth control.

Discoloration of Body Fluids

The patient should be informed that PRIFTIN (rifapentine) may produce a reddish coloration of the urine, sweat, sputum, tears, and breast milk and the patient should be forewarned that contact lenses or dentures may be permanently stained.

Adverse Reactions

Patients should be instructed to notify their physician promptly if they experience any of the following: fever, loss of appetite, malaise, nausea and vomiting, darkened urine, yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes, and pain or swelling of the joints.

Administration with Food

For those patients with a propensity to experience nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal upset, inform those patients that administration of PRIFTIN (rifapentine) with food may be useful.

Last reviewed on RxList: 8/27/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.