Rifabutin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Rifabutin is used to prevent mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection.

Rifabutin is also used with other medicines to treat tuberculosis in people with HIV.

Rifabutin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use rifabutin if you have active tuberculosis, or if you are also taking delavirdine or voriconazole.

Rifabutin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. Rifabutin usually is taken once a day with or without food. If you have nausea or vomiting when you take your medication, your doctor may tell you to take rifabutin at a lower dose twice a day with food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take rifabutin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If you are having difficulty swallowing the capsule, you may empty the contents of the capsule and mix with applesauce.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Rifabutin may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.

If you develop signs of tuberculosis while taking rifabutin, you should be treated with tuberculosis medications right away. Taking only rifabutin while you have active tuberculosis could make the infection resistant to antibiotics. Call your doctor if you have any signs of tuberculosis: fever, cough, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and feeling constantly tired.

While using rifabutin, you may need frequent blood tests and chest x-rays.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Rifabutin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

You should not use rifabutin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• active tuberculosis; or

• if you are allergic to rifapentine or rifampin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.

Some medicines can interact with rifabutin and should not be used at the same time. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you take:

• delavirdine; or

• voriconazole.

To make sure rifabutin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease; or

• a history of an eye condition called uveitis.

rifabutin is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Rifabutin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.

It is not known whether rifabutin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Avoid wearing dentures or contact lenses. Rifabutin may cause certain body fluids to turn red, orange, or brown. This includes tears and saliva. Although this is a harmless side effect, discolored tears or saliva could permanently stain your contact lenses or dentures.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Rifabutin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• severe eye redness, small white or yellow patches on the surface of your eye; or

• low white blood cell counts--fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing;

Common side effects of rifabutin may include:

• red, orange, or brown discoloration of your skin, tears, sweat, saliva, urine, or stools;

• gas, burping, upset stomach;

• rash; or

• muscle pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Many drugs can interact with rifabutin. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• certain antibiotics--clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;

• antifungal medicine--fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole;

• hepatitis C medicine--boceprevir, simeprevir, telaprevir; or

• HIV or AIDS medicine--fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, zidovudine.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with rifabutin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to rifabutin.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.