Common Jaundice, Hepatitis (viral infection of liver), Increased liver enzymes, Joint pain.

Expert advice for Pyrazinamide

Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this drug.
Do not have any immunizations/vaccinations while using this medication without the consent of your doctor.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as persistent nausea,  vomiting, feeling of discomfort (malaise) or jaundice (abnormal liver function causing yellowing of skin and eyes) while taking pyrazinamide. It indicates that you are developing liver disease.
Constant monitoring of liver function (especially levels of enzymes aspartate transferase [AST] and alanine transferase [ALT]) and blood uric acid levels is advised while on treatment with pyrazinamide.
Do consult your doctor before taking pyrazinamide if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Do not use pyrazinamide, if you are breast-feeding.
Do not stop taking pyrazinamide without consulting your doctor.
If you forget to take a dose of pyrazinamide, take it as soon as you remember. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed dose.
Do consult your doctor if you are taking oral contraceptive medications (hormonal birth control pills) for birth control. Your doctor may ask you to use other means of birth control (eg. condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking pyrazinamide.

Q. What is Pyrazinamide and what is it used for?
Pyrazinamide is an antibiotic. It is used in combination with other antibiotics in the treatment of tuberculosis

Q. Is Pyrazinamide bactericidal?
Pyrazinamide is both a bacteriostatic and a bactericidal antibiotic. It stops the growth of bacteria (bacteriostatic) in certain cases and kills (bactericidal) the tuberculosis causing bacteria in other cases

Q. How does Pyrazinamide work/treat tuberculosis?
Pyrazinamide kills or stops growth of bacteria that causes tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). The exact mechanism of action for Pyrazinamide is not known

Q. How does Pyrazinamide cause hyperuricemia and gout?
Following oral intake of Pyrazinamide, it gets converted in the body to pyrazinoic acid (active chemical form of Pyrazinamide). Pyrazinoic acid blocks the excretion of urates (salt form of uric acid) by the kidneys. This causes an increase in blood levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia). Excess uric acid accumulation between joints causes pain, swelling, redness and stiffness in joints (gout).

Common Skin rash, Nausea, Vomiting, Chills, Muscle pain.

Expert advice for Rifampicin

Rifampin interacts with many drugs. Please inform your doctor about all the medication you are currently taking to avoid interactions that may reduce effectiveness of any treatment or aggravate side effects.
Do consult your doctor before taking rifampin if you wear contact lenses. Using rifampin may permanently stain your contact lenses.
Taking rifampin may produce a brownish-red coloration of the urine, sweat, sputum and tears. This is not a harmful effect.
Do consult your doctor before taking rifampin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Do consult your doctor if you are taking oral contraceptive medications for birth control. Your doctor may ask you to use other means of birth control (eg. condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking rifampin.
Do consult your doctor before taking rifampin if you are breast-feeding.
Do consult your doctor before taking rifampin if you are aged 65 years or above.
If you take rifampin irregularly or if daily administration is resumed after a drug free interval, you may experience ‘flu syndrome’ (includes episodes of fever, chills, headache, dizziness, and bone pain).
Rifampin should preferably be taken in the morning before breakfast. Taking rifampin with food is known to delay its absorption (process by which the active drug reaches the affected site in the body via blood circulation) thereby, hampering its effectiveness.
Do not stop taking rifampin without consulting your doctor.

Q. Is rifampin and Rifampicin same?
Yes. Rifampin (nomenclature in the United States) and Rifampicin (nomenclature in Britain) is the same antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy

Q. Is rifampin a penicillin/amoxicillin/sulfa drug?
No. Rifampin is an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy. It has a structure and mechanism of action different from penicillin or amoxicillin (amoxicillin belongs to the class of penicillin antibiotics). The chemical structure and mechanism of action of rifampin is different from sulfa drugs

Q. Is rifampin bacteriostatic or bactericidal?
Rifampin is a bactericidal drug. It acts by blocking the activity of a bacterial enzyme called DNA-dependent RNA polymerase which essential for important life processes in the bacteria, thereby killing the bacteria

Q. Is rifampin an inducer or inhibitor?
Rifampin is an inducer (increases activity) of an important liver enzyme system that is responsible for the final processing and elimination of several drugs from the body

Q. What is R-cin 600 used for?
R-cin 600 is a trade name for active drug rifampin 600 mg. Rifampin is an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy. It is also used in the prevention of meningococcal meningitis and Haemophilus influenza infections. It may also be used in combination with other drugs to treat infections-Brucellosis, Legionnaires disease or serious staphylococcal infections

Q. What is R-cinex/Macox plus/R-cinex 600?
R-cinex and Macox plus are trade names for a combination of active drugs rifampin and isoniazid. It is used in the treatment of tuberculosis. R-cinex 600 and Macox plus contains 600 mg of active drug rifampin and 300 mg of active drug isoniazid

Q. Can I take rifampin with ibuprofen/acetaminophen (Tylenol)?
Rifampin has no known serious drug interaction with ibuprofen or acetaminophen (trade name: Tylenol). Inform your doctor about all the medication you are currently taking to avoid interactions that may reduce effectiveness of any treatment or aggravate side effects

Q. Does rifampin cause weight gain/weight loss/ hair loss/ constipation/ yeast infection?
No. Changes in body weight, hair loss or triggering constipation are not among the known side effects of rifampin. Rifampin is an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy. It has no known effect on causing yeast infections

Q. Does rifampin cause headaches?
Yes. Headache is a possible side effect of rifampin

Q. Does rifampin change urine color/turn urine orange?
Yes. Taking rifampin may change the color of your urine (skin, sweat, saliva, tears and feces) to brownish-red or orange. This effect is not harmful

Q. Does rifampin cause liver damage?
Rifampin is safe when used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration. Constant monitoring of liver function is important while on treatment with rifampin. Taking drugs like saquinavir, ritonavir with rifampin can cause severe liver damage. Do consult your doctor if you have any liver problem before taking rifampin.