Rifampicin Capsules Ip - Expiration Date: 2 Years

Rifampicin, also known as rifampin, is a potent antibiotic belonging to the rifamycin group of medications. It is a cornerstone drug in the treatment of several serious bacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis.

Here is a detailed description of rifampicin:

1. Mechanism of Action

Target: Rifampicin works by inhibiting a crucial enzyme in bacteria called DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP).

Process: By binding to this enzyme, it prevents the transcription of DNA into RNA, which is a vital step for protein synthesis, bacterial growth, and multiplication.

Selectivity: A key aspect of rifampicin's effectiveness is that it selectively targets the bacterial RNAP without affecting the corresponding enzyme in human cells. This allows it to be effective against bacteria while having minimal direct harm to human tissue.

Bactericidal: At therapeutic levels, rifampicin has a bactericidal effect, meaning it directly kills the bacteria.

2. Therapeutic Uses
Rifampicin is primarily used in a combination with other drugs to prevent the development of drug resistance. Its main indications include:

Tuberculosis (TB): This is its most common and crucial use. It is a first-line drug for treating active TB and is also used for the treatment of latent TB infection to prevent the disease from developing.

Leprosy: It is a key component of multi-drug therapy for leprosy.

Prophylaxis: It is used as a prophylactic measure to prevent infection in individuals who have been in close contact with people with certain bacterial infections, such as those caused by Neisseria meningitidis (which can cause meningitis) or Haemophilus influenzae.

Other Infections: It is also used in combination with other antibiotics to treat certain severe infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, such as osteomyelitis (bone infection) and prosthetic valve endocarditis.

3. Common Side Effects

Orange/Red Discoloration: A very common and expected side effect is a harmless but noticeable orange-red discoloration of body fluids, including urine, sweat, tears, saliva, and contact lenses. Patients should be warned about this to avoid alarm and to prevent permanent staining of soft contact lenses.

Gastrointestinal Issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and loss of appetite are common.

Hepatotoxicity: Rifampicin can be toxic to the liver, especially when used in combination with other drugs that affect the liver (e.g., isoniazid). Regular monitoring of liver function is often required during treatment.

Flu-like Syndrome: Patients may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, and body aches.

4. Drug Interactions

Potent Enzyme Inducer: Rifampicin is a potent inducer of a group of liver enzymes known as cytochrome P450 (CYP). This means it speeds up the metabolism of many other drugs, leading to decreased levels and reduced effectiveness.

Significant Interactions: This effect can lead to serious drug interactions, making it crucial to inform a healthcare provider of all other medications being taken. Some notable interactions include:

Hormonal Birth Control: Rifampicin can make oral contraceptives and other hormonal birth control methods less effective, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy. Alternative, non-hormonal methods should be used.

Anticoagulants: It can reduce the effect of blood thinners like warfarin, increasing the risk of blood clots.

HIV Medications: It is contraindicated with many antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV, as it can cause their plasma levels to fall below a therapeutic range, leading to treatment failure and drug resistance.