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Rifampicin

Eremfat, Rifoldin · ATC code J04AB02

Also known as: Rifampisin, rifampin · Brand names: Eremfat, Rifoldin, Rifampicin Eberth, Rafamin, Rifam, Rifcap, Rifex

Key facts
Active substance
Rifampicin
Drug class
Antituberculous drug
ATC code
J04AB02
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Rifampicin (rifampin) is a rifamycin antibiotic. It is used to treat all forms of tuberculosis and for short-term treatment of asymptomatic meningococcal carriers.

What it is used for

  • All forms of tuberculosis, combined with other antituberculosis drugs
  • Short-term treatment of the asymptomatic meningococcal carrier state (not for meningococcal disease)

Dosing

  • Tuberculosis, adults: 10 mg/kg once daily by mouth, not to exceed 600 mg/day
  • Tuberculosis, children: 10 to 20 mg/kg, not to exceed 600 mg/day
  • Taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal with a full glass of water
  • Initial phase usually rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide for 2 months, then rifampin and isoniazid for at least 4 months
  • Meningococcal carriers: adults 600 mg twice daily for two days; children 1 month or older 10 mg/kg every 12 hours for two days

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to rifampin, any rifamycin or components
  • Concomitant ritonavir-boosted saquinavir (severe hepatocellular toxicity)
  • Concomitant atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, cabotegravir, fostemsavir or lenacapavir

Important warnings

  • Hepatotoxicity up to fulminant liver failure and death; in liver disease use only when necessary under strict supervision
  • Resistance can emerge rapidly; obtain cultures and susceptibility tests before and during therapy
  • Thrombotic microangiopathy has been reported
  • Discoloration (yellow, orange, red, brown) of teeth, urine, sweat, sputum and tears

Side effects

  • Heartburn, epigastric distress, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Pseudomembranous colitis
  • Liver test abnormalities, hepatitis, cholestasis
  • Tooth discoloration, which may be permanent

Interactions

  • Rifampin is a potent inducer of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters and may alter exposure to many drugs
  • Hormonal contraceptives may be less reliable; alternative contraception should be considered
  • Several HIV medicines are contraindicated (see contraindications)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Use in pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus
  • In the last weeks of pregnancy may cause postnatal hemorrhage in mother and infant; vitamin K may be indicated

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • EremfatEsteve Pharmaceuticals Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • RifoldinSanofi-Aventis Gmbh Osterreich · 2 register entries

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Germany

  • EremfatEsteve Pharmaceuticals Gmbh · 2 register entries
  • Rifampicin EberthDr. Friedrich Eberth Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • RafaminDEVA HOLDİNG A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • RifamNOBEL İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 9 register entries
  • RifcapKOÇAK FARMA İLAÇ VE KİMYA SAN. A.Ş. · 13 register entries
  • RifexATABAY İLAÇ FABRİKASI A.Ş. · 11 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 24 more European countries
Belgium
Rifadine
Bulgaria
Тубоцин
Croatia
Rimactan
Cyprus
Rifasynt, Syntoren
Czechia
Benemicin
Denmark
Rimactan
Finland
Rimapen
France
Rifadine, Rimactan
Hungary
Rifamed
Iceland
Rimactan
Ireland
Rifadin
Italy
Rifadin
Latvia
Benemicin
Lithuania
Benemicin
Luxembourg
Rifadine
Malta
Rifampicyna Tzf
Netherlands
Rifadin, Rifampicine Sandoz
Norway
Rimactan
Poland
Rifampicyna Tzf
Portugal
Rifadin, Rimactán
Romania
Rifampicină Arena, Sinerdol
Slovakia
Benemicin
Spain
Rifaldin, Rimactán
Sweden
Rimactan

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

Another question about this substance?

Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines, studies and product information – every claim with its source.

Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. rifampin (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) – Prescribing Information, 2026-02-11. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=b56004f0-f23d-47f6-80c7-39884fccbccc
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC J04AB.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.