Priftin
Priftin, 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.
What is Priftin (rifapentine)?
What is Priftin (rifapentine) used for?
As 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 again
How Priftin (rifapentine) works
Priftin (rifapentine) is a rifamycin antibiotic. It works by blocking a protein in TB-causing bacteria that they need to use to grow and spread. This helps fight the TB infection.
Drug facts
Side effects of Priftin (rifapentine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Initial 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.
Less Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach upset or indigestion
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Rash
- Itching
Priftin (rifapentine) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Liver problems: severe nausea, vomiting, right-sided stomach pain, fatigue, low or no appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Low blood cell counts: fever, chills, weakness, unusual bruising or bleeding, blood in urine or stools
- Severe allergic reaction: rash; trouble breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Severe skin reaction: rash, painful blisters, skin reddening, skin peeling, mouth sores, sore throat, fever, fatigue
- C. difficile-related diarrhea: rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day)
The following Priftin (rifapentine) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Black, tarry stools
chills
coughing up blood
hoarseness
lower back or side pain
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
skin rash
trouble breathing with exertion
ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
burning, dry, or itching eyes
excessive tearing of the eye
fast heartbeat
general feeling of illness
headache
irritation
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
loss of appetite
pinpoint red spots on the skin
redness of the skin
swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing or swallowing
Rare
blue or pale skin
burning feeling in the chest or stomach
burning, tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
chest pain, possibly moving to the left arm, neck, or shoulder
cloudy or dark urine
cold sweat
collection of blood under the skin
confusion
deep, dark purple bruise
dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
indigestion
itching in the genital or other skin areas
lack or loss of strength
light-colored stools
noisy breathing
pain in the lower back or side
pain or burning in the throat
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
right upper stomach pain and fullness
scaling of the skin
seizures
stabbing pain
stomach upset
tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, and prominent superficial veins over the affected area
thick, white vaginal discharge with mild or no odor
thickening of bronchial secretions
thirst
vaginal bleeding
voice changes
vomiting
yellow skin or eyes
Incidence not known
Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
sensitivity of the skin to the sun
thinning of the skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Increased sweating
Less common
Belching
difficulty in moving
Rare
Discoloration of the skin
drowsiness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Priftin (rifapentine)
Pros
- 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 swallowing
Cons
- 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 only
Pharmacist tips for Priftin (rifapentine)
- Follow your prescriber's instructions to take Priftin (rifapentine) once or twice per week. This depends on whether you have active or latent TB and what phase of treatment you're in. Mark the dates and times of when you need to take your doses in your calendar. You can also use a medication reminder app. Missing doses can make your infection come back and become harder to treat.
- Take Priftin (rifapentine) with food. This helps the medication get absorbed into your body. Taking the medication with food can also help lessen some side effects like stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting.
- If you or your child can't swallow the Priftin (rifapentine) tablets whole, you can crush them and add to a small amount of soft food. After you mix the medication with food, eat all of the mixture right away.
- Priftin (rifapentine) can cause some of your body tissue or fluids turn a red-orange color, but it's not harmful. This can include your skin, teeth, tongue, saliva, tears, sweat, urine, and stool. It can also stain any dentures or soft contact lenses, which can be permanent.
- It's best to avoid alcohol while you're taking Priftin (rifapentine). Drinking alcohol with Priftin (rifapentine) raises your risk for liver damage. Drinking a lot of alcohol can also weaken your immune system, which can make it harder for you to recover from your infection.
- Share a list of all the medications you're taking, including over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements, with your care team so they can review it. Don't start any new medications while you're taking Priftin (rifapentine) without letting your care team know first. Certain drug interactions with Priftin (rifapentine) can make your medications work less well or put you at risk for side effects.
- Priftin (rifapentine) can make hormonal birth control work less well, which can put you at risk for an unintended pregnancy. Ask your care team about switching to a non-hormonal birth control option (e.g., condoms, Paragard (copper IUD)).
Common questions about Priftin (rifapentine)
Yes, you can take Priftin (rifapentine) and isoniazid together. These two medications are taken together as an option for treating latent TB. This combination is also an option for the 4-week continuation phase of active TB treatment (after the initial phase of treatment when you took them along with other TB antibiotics). Follow your prescriber's instructions to take Priftin (rifapentine) with other TB antibiotics like isoniazid.
Yes, both Priftin (rifapentine) and rifampin (Rifadin) are rifamycin antibiotics that are used to treat active and latent TB. But rifampin (Rifadin) is also used to treat people who are considered "meningococcal carriers" — these people have Meningococcal bacteria in the nose or throat but aren't sick. Another difference is that Priftin (rifapentine) is taken once or twice per week whereas rifampin (Rifadin) is taken once or twice per day. Finally, Priftin (rifapentine) is available as a brand-name medication only but rifampin (Rifadin) comes as a lower-cost generic. Talk to your care team if you have more questions about comparing between the two medications.
Yes, you should take Priftin (rifapentine) with food. Taking Priftin (rifapentine) on an empty stomach can lower the amount of medication that gets absorbed into your body. This can lower medication levels in the body and possibly make the antibiotic work less well. As a result, resistant bacteria can grow and make your infection harder to treat. Taking Priftin (rifapentine) with food can also help lessen possible stomach side effects like nausea and upset stomach.
Weight loss wasn't a side effect that people who took Priftin (rifapentine) reported during clinical trials. It's possible, though, that the medication can cause you to lose your appetite and affect how nourished you are. Let your primary care provider know if you've experienced unexplained changes in your weight. They can help identify the cause.
It's possible. Priftin (rifapentine) interacts with many medications, including levothyroxine (Synthroid). Priftin (rifapentine) lowers the amount of levothyroxine (Synthroid) in the body, which can affect how well your thyroid condition is managed. Let your primary care provider (PCP) know that you're taking Priftin (rifapentine) so they're aware of this drug interaction. You might need to get your thyroid hormone levels checked more often as your PCP adjusts your levothyroxine (Synthroid) dose.
Stop taking Priftin (rifapentine) when your prescriber instructs you to. You'll typically need to take Priftin (rifapentine) for 6 months to treat active TB and for 3 months to treat latent TB. Ask your care team if you're not sure how long you'll need to take Priftin (rifapentine).
Speak with a healthcare professional if you're pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or become pregnant during treatment with Priftin (rifapentine). This medication isn't recommended during pregnancy because of the potential risk for harm to the unborn baby.
Tell your prescriber if you'd like to breastfeed while you're taking Priftin (rifapentine). It's not completely known how safe the medication is while breastfeeding because it hasn't been well-studied. But the CDC and other professional organizations suggest breastfeeding during treatment might be safe. Your prescriber can discuss the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while you're taking this medication. Keep in mind that Priftin (rifapentine) can stain breast milk a red-orange color.
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Risks and warnings for Priftin (rifapentine)
Priftin (rifapentine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Liver injury
- Risk factors: Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications that cause liver injury | Liver problems
Priftin (rifapentine) can raise the level of liver enzymes in your blood, which can be a sign of liver injury. Avoid alcohol and other medications that might harm your liver. Let your prescriber know if you have a history of liver problems; you might need to get regular blood tests done during treatment to check that your liver health doesn't worsen. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms of liver damage, like severe nausea, vomiting, right-sided stomach pain, fatigue, low or no appetite, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Severe allergic reaction
Severe allergic reactions to Priftin (rifapentine) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Stop taking this medication and get medical attention right away if you have rash, swelling in your face or lips, or trouble breathing.
Severe skin reaction
Some people reported having serious and life-threatening skin reactions while they took Priftin (rifapentine). These skin reactions can include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. Stop taking Priftin (rifapentine) and get medical attention right away if you notice changes in your skin, like rash, painful blisters, skin reddening, or skin peeling, or mouth sores. Also get medical help as soon as possible if you experience sore throat, fever, or fatigue; these can be other symptoms related to the skin reaction.
Red-orange color in body fluids, on skin, or in the mouth
It's normal for Priftin (rifapentine) to cause your bodily fluids (such as urine, sweat, spit, or tears) and tissue (such as skin, tongue, or teeth) to turn a red-orange color. This color change is harmless to the body, though it might permanently stain any contact lenses or dentures that you wear.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
Treatment with any antibiotic, including Priftin (rifapentine), can lead to an infection caused by the bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). This infection can happen because antibiotics change the normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. As a result, C. diff can overgrow in the gut and cause potentially life-threatening diarrhea.
C. diff-related diarrhea is considered a medical emergency. It can cause fast heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, and frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day). Get medical attention right away if you have any of these symptoms. You'll get tested for C. diff-related diarrhea and get appropriate treatment, if needed.
Priftin (rifapentine) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150mg | 24 tablets | $125.92 | $5.25 |
Typical dosage for Priftin (rifapentine)
Active TB in people age 12 years and older
- Initial phase: The typical dose is 600 mg (4 tablets) by mouth with food twice a week (separated by at least 3 days) for 2 months. After the first 2 months of treatment, you'll move onto the continuation phase of treatment.
- Continuation phase: The typical dose is 600 mg (4 tablets) by mouth with food once a week for 4 months.
- Take Priftin (rifapentine) together with other TB antibiotics (e.g., isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol), as instructed by your prescriber.
Latent TB in people age 2 years and older
- Take Priftin (rifapentine) by mouth with food once per week for 12 weeks (3 months). The dose depends on your weight.
- Weight of 22 lbs to 30 lbs: The typical dose is 300 mg (2 tablets).
- Weight of 31 lbs to 55 lbs: The typical dose is 450 mg (3 tablets).
- Weight of 56 lbs to 70 lbs: The typical dose is 600 mg (4 tablets).
- Weight of 71 lbs to 110 lbs: The typical dose is 750 mg (5 tablets).
- Weight greater than 110 lbs: The typical dose is 900 mg (6 tablets).
- Take Priftin (rifapentine) with isoniazid, as instructed by your prescriber.
Interactions between Priftin (rifapentine) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Artemether
- Cabotegravir
- Delamanid
- Doravirine
- Lurasidone
- Ranolazine
- Rilpivirine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Amprenavir
- Apremilast
- Bedaquiline
- Benzhydrocodone
- Bictegravir
- Buprenorphine
- Ceritinib
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Clarithromycin
- Cobicistat
- Codeine
- Darunavir
- Desogestrel
- Dienogest
- Dihydrocodeine
- Doxorubicin
- Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
- Dronedarone
- Drospirenone
- Elvitegravir
- Enzalutamide
- Erlotinib
- Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethynodiol
- Etonogestrel
- Etravirine
- Exemestane
- Fentanyl
- Fosamprenavir
- Gestodene
- Hydrocodone
- Indinavir
- Irinotecan
- Irinotecan Liposome
- Ketoconazole
- Lapatinib
- Ledipasvir
- Levonorgestrel
- Linagliptin
- Lopinavir
- Lumateperone
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Meperidine
- Mestranol
- Methadone
- Mifepristone
- Naloxegol
- Nelfinavir
- Nevirapine
- Nifedipine
- Nilotinib
- Nimodipine
- Nomegestrol
- Norelgestromin
- Norethindrone
- Norgestimate
- Norgestrel
- Oxycodone
- Panobinostat
- Pazopanib
- Pentazocine
- Piperaquine
- Regorafenib
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Segesterone
- Simeprevir
- Sofosbuvir
- Sorafenib
- Sufentanil
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Tipranavir
- Tolvaptan
- Tramadol
- Ubrogepant
- Ulipristal
- Vandetanib
- Velpatasvir
- Vilazodone
- Vincristine
- Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
- Vortioxetine
- Voxilaprevir
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acenocoumarol
- Acetyldigoxin
- Adinazolam
- Alprazolam
- Amiodarone
- Amitriptyline
- Amlodipine
- Aranidipine
- Bentazepam
- Bepridil Hydrochloride
- Betamethasone
- Bisoprolol
- Bromazepam
- Brotizolam
- Carbamazepine
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Chloramphenicol
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlorpropamide
- Cilnidipine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clevidipine
- Clobazam
- Clofibrate
- Clonazepam
- Clorazepate
- Cyclosporine
- Dapsone
- Delavirdine
- Delorazepam
- Deslanoside
- Dexamethasone
- Diazepam
- Dicumarol
- Digitoxin
- Digoxin
- Diltiazem
- Disopyramide
- Doxycycline
- Estazolam
- Felodipine
- Fluconazole
- Fludrocortisone
- Flunitrazepam
- Flurazepam
- Fosphenytoin
- Gallopamil
- Glyburide
- Halazepam
- Haloperidol
- Hydrocortisone
- Isradipine
- Ketazolam
- Loprazolam
- Lorazepam
- Lorcainide
- Lormetazepam
- Manidipine
- Medazepam
- Metaclazepam
- Metildigoxin
- Metoprolol
- Mexiletine
- Midazolam
- Nicardipine
- Nisoldipine
- Nitrazepam
- Nitrendipine
- Nortriptyline
- Ospemifene
- Oxazepam
- Phenprocoumon
- Phenytoin
- Pinazepam
- Prazepam
- Prednisone
- Propafenone
- Propranolol
- Quazepam
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Remimazolam
- Repaglinide
- Sildenafil
- Talinolol
- Temazepam
- Tertatolol
- Tetrazepam
- Theophylline
- Tocainide
- Tolbutamide
- Triazolam
- Valproic Acid
- Verapamil
- Warfarin
- Zidovudine
How much does Priftin (rifapentine) cost?
$125.92
Priftin (rifapentine) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Priftin (rifapentine) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to Priftin (rifapentine), rifampin (Rifadin), rifaximin (Xifaxan), or rifabutin (Mycobutin)
What are alternatives to Priftin (rifapentine)?
As an add-on to other tuberculosis (TB) antibiotics for:
Priftin (rifapentine) images
