| What is Priftin used for? Priftin
is an antibiotic used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).
Priftin must only be used in combination with at least one other
anti-TB drug prescribed for your condition. You must take Priftin
twice a week for 2 months with no less that 3 days (72 hours)
between doses, plus other daily medications as directed during
this intensive phase of the treatment. It is critical that you
not miss even one dose of Priftin or your other medications
during this 2-month intensive phase of treatment to make sure
that TB disappears from the saliva and to make sure that TB
does not return.
After the first 2 months, you must take Priftin once
a week in combination with at least another anti-TB drug prescribed
for your condition.
Experience using Priftin with HIV - positive patients
is limited. If you are HIV - positive, you may require more
frequent doses; consult your health care provider.
Who should not take Priftin?
You should not take Priftin if you have:
- a history of allergic reaction to any of the
rifamycins (e.g., rifampin and rifabutin)
- a history of porphyria
General Precautions with Priftin:
- It is very important to take your medicines exactly
as prescribed by your health care provider for the entire
time that you are being treated. It is especially important
not to skip doses. Otherwise, TB can return.
- If you begin having severe and/or constant diarrhea,
stop taking Priftin immediately and contact your health
care provider for treatment.
- Priftin has been shown to interact with certain
drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV-infection.
- If you have a history of poor nutrition, alcoholism,
diabetes, or you are a teenager; your health care provider
may want you to add vitamin B6 as a supplement
to your diet.
- Priftin may affect the reliability of birth control
pills, so other methods of birth control should be used
while taking Priftin.
- If you are in the late stages of pregnancy, your
health care provider may check your blood for clotting ability.
What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?
It is extremely important that you take your medicines
as instructed for the entire time you are being treated, and
you must avoid missing doses of Priftin or any of the other
drugs you take in combination with Priftin during this time.
Tell your doctor or health care provider immediately
if you experience any of the following:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling of general discomfort
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dark colored urine
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Pain or swelling in your joints
Tell your doctor or health care provider if you:
- have a history of liver problems or abnormal liver
test results, because anti-TB medications can cause/create
serious liver problems.
- are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant,
or are breast-feeding.
Because many other medications can interact with Priftin,
review all medications that you are taking with your health
care provider, including those that you take without a prescription.
What are some possible side effects of Priftin?
(This is NOT a complete list of side effects
reported with Priftin. Your health care provider can discuss
with you a more complete list of side effects.)
Because Priftin is never taken alone, the following
list of side effects may be shared with any of the combination
drug treatments used in clinical trials. They are:
- Blood in urine
- Rash
- Itchiness
- Skin breakouts
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of iron in the blood
- Joint pain
- Pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
You may see a red-orange color change to your body
fluids (e.g., urine, sweat, spit, tears,
and breast milk), or tissues (e.g.,
skin, teeth, and tongue).
If you wear contact lenses or
dentures, they may be permanently stained
this red-orange color.
For more detailed information about Priftin, ask your health
care provider.
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