What is Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

Rifabutin is an antibiotic. It prevents bacteria from multiplying in your body.
Rifabutin is used to prevent mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Rifabutin is also used with other medications to treat tuberculosis in people with HIV.
Rifabutin is often given together with other antibiotics.
Rifabutin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to rifabutin, rifapentine (Priftin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rimactane, Rifamate).
Rifabutin should not be used without other antibiotics to prevent mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in people with active tuberculosis. The tuberculosis may become resistant to treatment if rifabutin is used as a single medication. Be sure to take all your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Rifabutin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Rifabutin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking rifabutin.
Do not wear dentures or contact lenses while taking rifabutin. This medicine may discolor certain body fluids (including tears and saliva) with a red, orange, or brown color. While this is a harmless side effect, it may permanently stain dentures or contact lenses.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to rifabutin, rifapentine (Priftin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rimactane, Rifamate).
Rifabutin should not be used without other antibiotics to prevent mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in people with active tuberculosis. The tuberculosis may become resistant to treatment if rifabutin is used as a single medication. Be sure to take all your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Before using rifabutin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take rifabutin. Your doctor will tell you if any of your medication doses need to be changed.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Rifabutin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking rifabutin.
It is not known whether rifabutin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Rifabutin may cause a red-orange discoloration of breast milk.

Mycobutin Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• severe skin rash or itching
• pale skin, weakness, easy bruising or bleeding
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
• eye pain or redness, vision loss

Less serious side effects may include:

• red, orange, or brown discoloration of your skin, tears, sweat, saliva, urine, or stools
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• stomach pain
• belching, bloating, loss of appetite
• headache; or
• mild skin rash or itching

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Mycobutin Interactions

What other drugs affect Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

The following drugs can interact with rifabutin. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

• other antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab), fluconazole (Diflucan), or itraconazole (Sporanox); or
• HIV or AIDS medications such as amprenavir (Agenerase), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase)

There are many other medicines that can interact with rifabutin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

Do not wear dentures or contact lenses while taking rifabutin. This medicine may discolor certain body fluids (including tears and saliva) with a red, orange, or brown color. While this is a harmless side effect, it may permanently stain dentures or contact lenses.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Mycobutin Dosage

How should I take Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
You may take rifabutin with or without food. Take the medication with food if it causes stomach upset, nausea, or vomiting.
Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared.
Store rifabutin at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed.

What happens if I overdose on Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.

What happens if I miss a dose of Mycobutin (Rifabutin)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com