Compare Priftin vs. Rifampin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.
- Priftin (rifapentine)Rifampin (Rifadin)
- Priftin (rifapentine)Rifampin (Rifadin)
Summary of Priftin vs. Rifampin
Summary for Rifamycin antibioticPrescription onlyPriftin, also known by its generic name rifapentine, is a rifamycin antibiotic that's used to treat tuberculosis (TB) in adults and children. For active TB, it must be taken with other TB antibiotics, such as isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. And for latent TB, Priftin (rifapentine) is taken with isoniazid. Priftin (rifapentine) is a tablet that's taken by mouth with food. It's taken once or twice per week, depending on whether you have active or latent TB and what phase of treatment you're in. Side effects include low blood cell counts, coughing, and headache.
Summary for Rifamycin antibioticPrescription onlyRifampin (Rifadin) is an antibiotic used to treat active and latent tuberculosis (TB). It also helps prevent the spread of meningococcal infections by people who carriers of the bacteria, but aren't showing symptoms. Rifampin (Rifadin) is taken by mouth once or twice daily, depending on your medical conditions. If you're taking it for TB, your provider might prescribe other medications as well, like isoniazid. One side effect of rifampin (Rifadin) is that it can temporarily change the color of your teeth, body fluids, and even urine as a side effect.
Indications of Priftin vs. Rifampin
Indications forAs an add-on to other tuberculosis (TB) antibiotics for:
•Active TB infection in people ages 12 years and older•Latent TB infection in people ages 2 years and older who are high risk for the infection to become active againIndications for•Tuberculosis (TB)•Meningococcal carriers (when there's bacteria living in the nose and/or throat, but not causing infection)Pros and Cons of Priftin vs. Rifampin
Pros and Const for Rifamycin antibioticPros•Taken once or twice a week•Can treat children as young as 2 years old with latent TB•No dosage adjustments necessary if you have liver or kidney problems•Can crush the tablets and then add to semi-solid food if you have trouble swallowingCons•Must take with other TB antibiotics•Must take each dose in front of a healthcare professional (HCP)•Can change the color of body fluids and stain contact lenses and dentures•No lower-cost generic available; brand-name medication onlyPros and Const for Rifamycin antibioticPros•One of the first-choice antibiotics for treating TB•Taken once daily for TB treatment•For people who carry the meningococcal bacteria, taking rifampin (Rifadin) for just 2 days helps prevent the spread of infection•Can be made into an oral suspension if you or your child has a hard time swallowing capsules•Available in an injectable form if you're in the hospital and can't take medications by mouth•Available as a lower-cost genericCons•Must be used in combination with other anti-TB antibiotics when treating active TB•Can change the color of your teeth and body fluids and stain your contact lenses•Skipping doses can quickly cause drug resistance, making it much harder to treat the infection.•Can cause liver injury, so it's recommended to avoid alcohol•Interacts with many medications, and can lower the medication levels in the body•Not recommended for the treatment of serious meningococcal infectionsCommon Side Effects of Priftin vs. Rifampin
Common Side Effects forInitial phase for active TB: The following side effects were reported by people who took Priftin (rifapentine) with other TB antibiotics.
•Low blood cell counts (up to 11%)•Vomiting blood (8%)•Coughing (6%)•Sweating (5%)•Elevated liver enzymes (5%)Continuation phase for active TB: The following side effects were reported by people who took Priftin (rifapentine) with isoniazid.
Common Side Effects for•Temporary change in color (orange/yellow) of body fluids and teethWarnings of Priftin vs. Rifampin
Common Side Effects for•Liver injury•Severe allergic reaction•Severe skin reaction•Red-orange color in body fluids, on skin, or in the mouth•Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infectionCommon Side Effects for•Liver injury•Not for treating meningococcal infection•Allergic reactions•Higher risk for bleeding•Caution in diabetes•More side effects if not taken once a day•Effects on hormones and vitamin D levelsPrices with our coupons for Priftin vs. Rifampin
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