Rifapentine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Rifapentine is a medicine sold in the U.S. under one brand, for pulmonary tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Treats
- Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Latent Tuberculosis
- Available as
- Tablet
- Sold as
- Priftin
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
How rifapentine is dosed
From the FDA label for Priftin (application NDA021024). Other rifapentine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Active pulmonary tuberculosis: PRIFTIN should be used in regimens consisting of an initial 2 month phase followed by a 4 month continuation phase. ( 2.1 ) Initial phase (2 Months): 600 mg twice weekly for two months as directly observed therapy (DOT), with no less than 72 hours between doses, in combination with other antituberculosis drugs. ( 2.1 ) Continuation phase (4 Months): 600 mg once weekly for 4 months as directly observed therapy with isoniazid or another appropriate antituberculosis agent. ( 2.1 ) Latent tuberculosis infection: PRIFTIN should be administered in combination with isoniazid once weekly for 12 weeks as directly observed therapy. ( 2.2 ) Adults and pediatric patients ≥12 years: PRIFTIN (based on weight, see table below) and isoniazid 15 mg/kg (900 mg maximum). ( 2.2 ) Pediatric patients 2 to 11 years: PRIFTIN (based on weight, see table below) and isoniazid 25 mg/kg (900 mg maximum). ( 2.2 ) Weight range PRIFTIN dose Number of PRIFTIN tablets 10–14 kg 300 mg 2 14.1–25 kg 450 mg 3 25.1–32 kg 600 mg 4 32.1–50 kg 750 mg 5 >50 kg 900 mg 6 For Latent Tuberculosis Infection, the maximum recommended dose of PRIFTIN is 900 mg once weekly for 12 weeks. ( 2.2 ) Take with food. Tablets may be crushed and added to semi-solid food. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Dosage in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis PRIFTIN is only recommended for the treatment of active pulmonary tuberculosis caused…
Rifapentine side effects
The following serious and otherwise important adverse drug reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of labeling: Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Hypersensitivity [see Contraindications (4.1) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Paradoxical Drug Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Discoloration of Body Fluids [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Clostridioides Difficile –Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Porphyria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] The most common adverse reactions with regimen for active pulmonary tuberculosis (3% and greater) are anemia, lymphopenia, hemoptysis, neutropenia, cough, thrombocytosis, increased sweating, increased ALT, increased AST, back pain, rash, anorexia, arthralgia, increased blood urea, and headache. The most common adverse reaction (3% and greater) with the regimen for latent tuberculosis infection is hypersensitivity reaction. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC at 1-800-633-1610 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical…
Who shouldn’t take rifapentine
Known hypersensitivity to any rifamycin. ( 4.1 ) 4.1 Hypersensitivity PRIFTIN is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to rifamycins.
Rifapentine drug interactions
Protease Inhibitors and Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. ( 5.2 , 7.1 ) Hormonal Contraceptives: Use an effective non-hormonal method of contraception or add a barrier method of contraception during treatment with PRIFTIN. ( 7.3 ) May increase metabolism and decrease the activity of drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C8/9. Dosage adjustments may be necessary if given concomitantly. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Protease Inhibitors and Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Rifapentine is an inducer of CYP450 enzymes. Concomitant use of PRIFTIN with other drugs metabolized by these enzymes, such as protease inhibitors and certain reverse transcriptase inhibitors, may cause a significant decrease in plasma concentrations and loss of therapeutic effect of the protease inhibitor or reverse transcriptase inhibitor [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.2 Fixed-Dose Combination of Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Once-weekly coadministration of 900 mg PRIFTIN with the antiretroviral fixed-dose combination of efavirenz 600 mg, emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg in HIV-infected patients did not result in any substantial change in steady state exposures of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. No clinically significant change in CD4 cell counts or viral loads were noted [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.3 Hormonal Contraceptives PRIFTIN may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Patients using hormonal contraception should be advised to use an alternative non-hormonal contraceptive method or add a barrier method of contraception during treatment with PRIFTIN [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.4 Cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C8/9 Rifapentine is an inducer of cytochromes P450 3A4 and P450 2C8/9. Therefore, PRIFTIN may increase the metabolism of other coadministered drugs that are metabolized by these enzymes. Induction of enzyme activities by PRIFTIN occurred within 4 days after the first dose. Enzyme activities returned to baseline levels 14 days after discontinuing PRIFTIN. Rifampin has been reported to accelerate the metabolism and may reduce the activity of the following drugs; hence, PRIFTIN may also increase the metabolism and decrease the activity of these drugs. Dosage adjustments of the drugs in Table 4 or of other drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 or P450 2C8/9 may be necessary if they are given concurrently with PRIFTIN. Table 4: Drug Interactions with PRIFTIN: Dosage Adjustment May be Necessary Drug Class Examples of Drugs Within Class Antiarrhythmics Disopyramide, mexiletine, quinidine, tocainide Antibiotics Chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, dapsone, doxycycline; Fluoroquinolones (such as ciprofloxacin) Oral Anticoagulants Warfarin Anticonvulsants Phenytoin Antimalarials Quinine Azole Antifungals Fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole Antipsychotics Haloperidol Barbiturates Phenobarbital Benzodiazepines Diazepam Beta-Blockers Propranolol Calcium Channel Blockers Diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil Cardiac Glycoside Preparations Digoxin Corticosteroids Prednisone Fibrates Clofibrate Oral Hypoglycemics Sulfonylureas (e.g., glyburide, glipizide) Hormonal Contraceptives/Progestins Ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel Immunosuppressants Cyclosporine, tacrolimus Methylxanthines Theophylline Narcotic analgesics Methadone Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) Inhibitors Sildenafil Thyroid preparations Levothyroxine Tricyclic antidepressants Amitriptyline, nortriptyline 7.5 Other Interactions The conversion of PRIFTIN to 25-desacetyl rifapentine is mediated by an esterase enzyme. There is minimal potential for PRIFTIN metabolism to be inhibited or induced by another drug, based upon the characteristics of the esterase enzymes. Since PRIFTIN is highly bound to albumin, drug displacement interactions may also occur [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.6 Interactions with Laboratory Tests Therapeutic concentrations of rifampin have been shown to inhibit standard microbiological assays for serum folate and Vitamin B 12 . Similar drug-laboratory interactions should be considered for PRIFTIN; thus, alternative assay methods should be considered.
Every rifapentine product we track (1)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Only one: Priftin.
What rifapentine pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | 150 mg | pink | round | — |
| F | 150 mg | pink | round | — |
Rifapentine and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for rifapentine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadThe amount of rifapentine and its metabolite in milk is insufficient to treat tuberculosis in the breastfed infant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other professional organizations state that breastfeeding should not be discouraged in women taking rifapentine. Monitor the infant for signs of liver toxicity. Breastmilk may be stained a red-orange color.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised May 15, 2022. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about rifapentine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 389 reports naming rifapentine, and the FDA flagged 80% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- pyrexia46 reports
- nausea41 reports
- hypertension40 reports
- fatigue35 reports
- vomiting34 reports
- dizziness26 reports
- rash23 reports
- headache22 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean rifapentine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 26, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is rifapentine?
PRIFTIN (rifapentine) for oral administration contains 150 mg of the active ingredient rifapentine per tablet.
Can you take rifapentine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run rifapentine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What forms does rifapentine come in?
Across the brands we track, rifapentine is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic rifapentine?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled rifapentine product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Rifapentine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/rifapentine
- MLA
- “Rifapentine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/rifapentine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for rifapentine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.