Priftin®
Brand Name: Priftin®
Active Ingredient:   rifapentine
Strength(s): 150mg
Dosage Form(s):   Tablets
Company Name:    Aventis
Availability:         Prescription only
*Date Approved by FDA:   June 22, 1998
*Approval by FDA does not mean that the drug is available for consumers at this time.
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.

Link to Priftin's label

Back to Drug Index

Updated: 7/25/00, 9/4/01, 12/29/04ghc