Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Rifapentine Tablets
What RIFAPENTINE TABLETS is used for:
RIFAPENTINE TABLETS are used with isoniazid to treat latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). It should be taken by patients 2 years of age or older, who are at high risk of developing a tuberculosis infection.
Antibacterial drugs like RIFAPENTINE TABLETS treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold.
How RIFAPENTINE TABLETS works:
Rifapentine is an antimycobacterial agent. It helps prevent infections by killing the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis and preventing it from growing.
The ingredients in RIFAPENTINE TABLETS are:
Medicinal ingredients: Rifapentine
Non-medicinal ingredients:
Calcium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, disodium EDTA, hydroxypropyl cellulose, iron oxide red, low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol - part hydrolyzed, pregelatinized starch, sodium ascorbate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate, talc and titanium dioxide.
RIFAPENTINE TABLETS comes in the following dosage forms: The tablets contain 150 mg rifapentine.
Do not use RIFAPENTINE TABLETS if:
- are allergic (hypersensitive) to rifamycins or to any ingredient in the formulation, including any non-medicinal ingredient, or component of the container
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take RIFAPENTINE TABLETS. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have active tuberculosis disease.
- know that you have tuberculosis that is resistant to treatment with some medicines.
- have liver problems.
- have a genetic condition called porphyria.
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare professional about the risks of taking RIFAPENTINE TABLETS while pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if rifapentine passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking RIFAPENTINE TABLETS.
Other Warnings your should know about:
Discolouration of Body Fluids:
RIFAPENTINE TABLETS may cause a red-orange discolouration of body tissues or fluids, such as the skin, teeth, tongue, urine, feces, saliva, tears or sweat. This may also stain dentures or contact lenses.
Birth Control:
RIFAPENTINE TABLETS may reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives. Alternative methods of birth control should be used while you are taking RIFAPENTINE TABLETS.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with RIFAPENTINE TABLETS:
| Drug Type: | Examples: |
|---|---|
| Antiarrhythmics used to treat heart rhythms | Disopyramide, mexiletine, quinidine, tocainide |
| Antibiotics used to treat infections | Chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, dapsone, doxycycline; Fluoroquinolones (such as ciprofloxacin) |
| Oral Anticoagulants (blood thinners) used to prevent blood clots | Warfarin |
| Anticonvulsants used to control seizures | Phenytoin |
| Anti-malaria drugs | Quinine |
| Azole Antifungals | Fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole |
| Antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia | Haloperidol |
| Barbiturates used as sedatives | Phenobarbital |
| Benzodiazepines used as a sedatives | Diazepam |
| Beta-Blockers used to lower blood pressure | Propranolol |
| Calcium Channel Blockers used to lower blood pressure | Diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil |
| Cardiac Glycoside Preparations used to treat heart conditions | Digoxin |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone |
| Fibrates used to treat high cholesterol | Clofibrate |
| Oral Hypoglycemics used to treat diabetes | Sulfonylureas (e.g., glyburide, glipizide) |
| Hormonal Contraceptives / Progestins | Ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel |
| Immunosuppressants used to help with organ transplants | Cyclosporine, tacrolimus |
| Methylxanthines used to treat asthma and other lung diseases | Theophylline |
| Narcotic analgesics used to treat pain | Methadone |
| Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) Inhibitors used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and erectile dysfunction | Sildenafil |
| Protease inhibitors and reverse transcriptase inhibitors | Indinavir, Fixed-dose combination of efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir |
| Thyroid preparations | Levothyroxine |
| Tricyclic antidepressants | Amitriptyline, nortriptyline |
Medical Test Interactions:
RIFAPENTINE TABLETS may interact with certain microbiology tests. Tell your healthcare professional you are taking RIFAPENTINE TABLETS if you are ordered any laboratory tests.
How to take RIFAPENTINE TABLETS:
- Although you may feel better early in treatment, RIFAPENTINE TABLETS should be taken exactly as directed.
- Misuse or overuse of RIFAPENTINE TABLETS could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by RIFAPENTINE TABLETS (resistance). This means that RIFAPENTINE TABLETS may not work for you in the future.
- Do not share your medicine.
Take RIFAPENTINE TABLETS with food.
- If you cannot swallow RIFAPENTINE TABLETS whole, they can be crushed and mixed with small amount of semisolid food. Be sure to take all of the semisolid food with RIFAPENTINE TABLETS in it right away.
Usual dose:
Adults and Children 2 years and older:
Take RIFAPENTINE TABLETS once per week with isoniazid. Your dose will be determined by your weight. The maximum dose is 900 mg (6 tablets) per week.
| Weight range | Rifapentine dose | Number of RIFAPENTINE TABLETS |
|---|---|---|
| 10-14 kg | 300 mg | 2 |
| 14.1-25 kg | 450 mg | 3 |
| 25.1-32 kg | 600 mg | 4 |
| 32.1-50 kg | 750 mg | 5 |
| >50 kg | 900 mg | 6 |
Overdose:
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much RIFAPENTINE TABLETS, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.
Missed dose:
If you miss a dose, you can take your dose on the next available day during the same week. Leave 72 hours between doses and do not take more than 5 doses in a period of 28 days.
Possible side effects from using RIFAPENTINE TABLETS:
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking RIFAPENTINE TABLETS. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- constipation
- cough, sore throat
- dry mouth
- headache
- fatigue
- fever
- joint pain, back pain
- stomach discomfort or decrease in appetite
- sweating
- vaginal itching and yeast infection
- change in blood sugar levels
- change in blood test results
- change in liver function tests
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| VERY COMMON | |||
| Allergic Reactions: Redness or itching of the skin (hives); swelling of the face, tongue, hands or genitals; tightening of the airways or difficulty breathing; redness and itching in the eyes, flu-like symptoms (weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, chills, aches, sweats, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, palpitations), dizziness or fainting; low blood pressure or weak pulse. | ✔ | ||
| Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR) (severe skin reactions): Skin rash which may have blistering, peeling or bleeding on any part of your skin (including your lips, eyes, mouth, nose, genitals, hands or feet). You may also experience fever, chills, body aches, shortness of breath, or enlarged lymph nodes. | ✔ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
Clostridioides Difficile–Associated Disease (CDAD) (Infection in the colon): watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, severe belly cramping and tenderness, fever, blood in your stool. This may become fatal if not treated. You may experience this up to 2 months after taking Rifapentine. | ✔ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Porphyria (A rare disorder that causes build up of chemicals in the body): Triggering or worsening of symptoms of Porphyria. Blistering on skin when exposed to sun. Hair growth on face and sun exposed areas. Changes in skin colouring. | ✔ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
Storage:
RIFAPENTINE TABLETS should be stored at 15 0C to 30 0C. Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about RIFAPENTINE TABLETS:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; the manufacturer’s website https://www.macleodspharma.com/, or by calling +91-22-61132900.
Canadian distributor/importer:
Globyz Pharma
2201 Drew Rd,
Mississauga ON
L5S1E5
Date of Authorization: 2026-02-12