Rifater

Brand Names

Rifater

What is Rifater

Rifater (isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampin) is an antibiotic medication that prevents tuberculous bacteria from multiplying in your body. Rifater comes in tablet form. Each tablet consists of 120mg of rifampicin, 50mg of isoniazid and 300mg of pyrazinamide. It is made by Aventis.

Side effects of Rifater

The most common side effects of Rifater are considered to be:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue or face; hives)
• excessive tiredness or weakness
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite
• yellow skin or eyes
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• dark urine
• little or no urine
• difficult or painful urination
• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
vmuscle or bone pain
• painful or swollen joints
• worsening gout
• seizures
• blurred vision
• fever, chills, or a sore throat
• a headache
• a rash or itching
• confusion or abnormal behavior

Indication

Rifater is used to treat tuberculosis (TB) of the lungs. It consists of 3 medications: rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. They are antibiotics. Rifampicin kills a bacterial enzyme which is called RNA-polymerase. The tuberculosis bacteria use RNA-polymerase to produce essential proteins and to copy their own genetic information (DNA). The bacterial reproduction is impossible without this enzyme.

The exact function of isoniazid is still unknown, but the scientists suggest that it keeps the tuberculosis bacteria from making substances (mycolic acids) which are very important in the process of forming the cell walls of the bacteria.

Pyrazinamide also kills the tuberculosis bacteria that have infected cells.

Precautions

Rifater may rarely cause very serious or even fatal liver disease. The risk of liver disease is higher in people who are 35 years and older who use alcohol or illegal injection drugs or who recently have liver problems. You should inform your doctor immediately if you have noticed such symptoms of liver disease as: persistent nausea or vomiting, severe stomach or abdominal pain, unusual weakness or tiredness, dark urine, yellowing eyes or skin. Your doctor should order liver function tests while your treatment.

It’s obligatory to tell your doctor if you have:

• an allergic reaction
• kidney disease or liver disease
• porphyria
• gout
• diabetes mellitus.
• you are pregnant or want to be pregnant, or breastfeeding

Alcohol consumption is not recommended during the treatment, because it may increase the risk of damage to your liver.

The effectiveness of birth control pills reduces if you take it with Rifater. Your doctor should prescribe you another form of birth control during treatment.

Dosage forms

Rifater is used in the starting phase of the short-course (2 months) treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The next phase includes the treatment with rifampin and isoniazid for at least 4 months. Treatment should be continued for a longer period of time if it is necessary.

Rifater dosage for Adults

You should take Rifater either 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal with a full glass of water.

People weighing ≤44 kg– 4 tablets

People weighing 45–54 kg– 5 tablets

People weighing ≥55 kg– 6 tablets

Rifater dosage for children

For patients under the age of 15 the usage of Rifater isn't recommended, because the proportion of the drugs in this medication are intolerable for this age.