Rifinah (Rifampicin, Isoniazid)

Rifinah 150/100mg Tablets. Rifampicin, Isoniazid

What Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets are and what they are used for

Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets contain two different medicines called rifampicin and isoniazid. They both belong to a group of medicines called anti-tuberculous drugs. They work by killing the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets are used to treat tuberculosis (also known as TB).

Before you take Rifinah 150/100 mg Tablets

Do not take Rifinah 150/100 mg Tablets if:

You are allergic (hypersensitive) to

–   rifampicin

–   isoniazid

–   any of the other ingredients of the Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets

Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems,

swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue X You have yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) X You are taking saquinavir or ritonavirforan HIV infection

Do not take if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Rifinah 150/100mgTablets.

Take special care with Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if:

• You have liver problems
• You have any kidney problems and if you are having more than 600mg rifampicin per day
• You have diabetes. Your diabetes may become more difficult to control while taking this medicine
• You have epilepsy
• You have or have ever had mental health problems (such as depression or schizophrenia)
• You feel numb or weak in your arms and legs (peripheral neuropathy)
• You have an HIV infection
• You are underweight or malnourished
• You drink alcohol every day or you are an alcoholic
• You inject yourself with drugs
• You area black or Hispanic woman
• You have a rare blood problem called ‘porphyria’
• You doctor has told you that your body takes a long time to get rid of some drugs (you have a slow acetylator status)
• You wear contact lenses. Taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets may permanently stain soft contact lenses
• The person taking this medicine is a child
• You are aged 65 years or older

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets.

Blood Tests

Your doctor will need to check your blood before you take this medicine. This will help your doctor know if any changes happen to your blood after taking this medicine. If you are aged 35 years or older, you will also need to have monthly blood tests to check how your liver is working.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets work.

In particular, do not take this medicine, and tell your doctor, if you are taking:

Saquinavir or ritonavir used for HIV infection

The following medicines can make Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets work less well:

• Antacids used for indigestion. Take Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets at least 1 hour before taking antacids
• Other medicines used for TB such as P-aminosalicyclic acid (PAS) and cycloserine. PAS and Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets should be taken at least 8 hours apart

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

Heart and blood medicines

• Medicines for high blood pressure
• Medicines for heart problems or to control your heartbeat
• Medicines used to thin the blood such as warfarin
• Medicines used to lower cholesterol
• Water tablets (diuretics) such as eplerenone

Mental health, epilepsy and motor neurone medicines

• Medicines for thought disorders known as ‘antipsychotics’ such as haloperidol
• Medicines to calm or reduce anxiety (hypnotics, anxiolytics)
• Medicines to help you sleep (barbiturates)
• Medicines used for epilepsy such as phenytoin and carbamazepine
• Some medicines used for depression such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline
• Riluzole – used for motor neurone disease

Medicines for infections and the immune system

• Some medicines used for an HIV infection such as stavudine and zalcitabine
• Some medicines used for viral infections such as indinavir, efavirenz, amprenavir, nelfinavir, atazanavir, lopinavir and neviparine
• Medicines used for fungal infections
• Medicines used for bacterial infections (antibiotics)
• Medicines used for lowering your immune system such as ciclosporin, sirolimusand tacrolimus
• Praziquantel – used for tapeworm infections
• Atovaquone – used for pneumonia

Hormone and cancer medicines

• Some hormone medicines (estrogen, systemic hormones, progestogens) used for contraception or some types of cancer such as ethinyloestradiol, levonorgestrel or dydrogesterone
• Some hormone medicines (anti-estrogens) used for breast cancer or endometriosis such as tamoxifen, toremifene and gestrinone
• Some medicines used for cancer (cytotoxics) such as imatinib
• Levothyroxine (thyroid hormone) used for thyroid problems
• Irinotecan – used for cancer

Pain and inflammation medicines

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as etoricoxib, aspirin and indometacin
• Medicines used for pain such as codeine, morphine, fentanyl or pethidine
• Corticosteroids used for inflammation such as hydrocortisone, betamethasoneand prednisolone
• Methadone – used for heroin withdrawal

Other medicines

• Medicines used for diabetes
• Medicines used to relax muscles before surgery (anaesthetics) such as halothane
• Some medicines used for feeling sick or being sick such as ondansetron and aprepitant
• Quinine-used for malaria
• Theophylline – used for wheezing or difficulty in breathing

Taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets with food and drink

If Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets are taken with the food and drink listed below you may experience headache, sweating, flushing, fast, uneven or forceful heartbeat (palpitations), dizziness, feel lightheaded or faint (due to low blood pressure).

While taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets do not have:

• Cheese
• Skipjack tuna or other tropical fish
• Red wine

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, plan to get pregnant or think you are pregnant.

Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets may make the contraceptive “pill” work less well. This means you should change to a different type of contraception. Instead, you must use a reliable barrier method of contraception such as condoms or the “coil” while taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets. If you have any questions or are unsure about this talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

You should not breast-feed if you are taking Rifinah 150/100 mg Tablets.

This is because small amounts may pass into the mothers’ milk. If you are breast-feeding or planning to breast feed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines

You may feel dizzy or faint, have problems with vision or have other side effects that could affect your ability to drive while taking this medicine. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Rifinah 150/100mg Tablets contain:

• Sucrose:  If you have been told by your doctor that you cannot tolerate some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets
• Sodium: These tablets contain less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per daily dose and are essentially ‘sodium-free’.

How to take Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets

Always take Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Keep taking this medicine

• You must take the tablets every day for the whole time the doctor has told you to take them
• Do not stop and start taking the tablets. This may increase the risk of side effects and your TB will not be treated properly

How to take the tablets

• Take this medicine by mouth
• Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water
• Take at least 30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. They are best taken at least 30 minutes before breakfast
• Take all your tablets together each day, as a single dose
• Do not give this medicine to children
• If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor

Your doctor may ask you to take Vitamin B₆ during treatment with Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets, especially if you are malnourished, elderly or a diabetic.

How much to take

The usual dose is:

Adults and the Elderly weighing less than 50kg

• 3 tablets each day
• If you are elderly, your doctor may monitor your treatment more closely

Adults and the Elderly weighing more than 50kg

• Rifinah 300/150mg Tablets are usually prescribed

Children

• This medicine is not recommended for use in children.

If you take more Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets than you should

If you take more Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets than you should, tell a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you have taken.

You may feel sick (nausea), be sick (vomiting), have stomach pain, itching or a headache. You may also feel tired, sleepy, dizzy, light-headed, have blurred or strange visions (hallucinations) and faint or feel faint. Other signs of taking too much includes swelling of the face, eyes or eyelids, slurring of speech, difficulty breathing, fast heartbeat, uneven heartbeats, fits and heart attack.

If you forget to take Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten tablets.

Tests

Taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets may affect the results of some blood tests. In particular, tests for folate, vitamin B₁₂ and liver function. If you are going to have a blood test, it is important to tell your doctor that you are taking Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop taking and go to a hospital straight away if you notice any of the following serious side effects:

• You have an allergic reaction. The signs may include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, wheezing, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
• You have a fever and yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, feel tired, weak or generally unwell, loss of appetite (anorexia), feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting). These may be early signs of liver problems
• You get blistering, peeling, bleeding, scaling or fluid filled patches on any part of your skin. This includes your lips, eyes, mouth, nose, genitals, hands or feet. You may have a serious skin problem
• You bruise more easily than usual. Or you may have a painful rash of dark red spots under the skin which do not go away when you press on them (purpura). This could be because of a serious blood problem
• You have chills, tiredness, unusually pale skin colour, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat or dark coloured urine. This could be signs of a serious type of anaemia
• You have blood in your urine or an increase or decrease in amount of urine you produce. You may also get swelling, especially of the legs, ankles or feet. This may be caused by serious kidney problems
• You have a sudden severe headache. This could be a sign of bleeding in the brain
• Shortness of breath and wheezing
• You get confused, sleepy, cold clammy skin, shallow or difficult breathing, a racing heartbeat or your skin is paler than normal. These could be signs of shock
• You get more infections more easily than normal. Signs include fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers. This could be because you have a low number of white blood cells
• You have bleeding from your nose, ear, gums, throat, skin or stomach. Signs may include a feeling of tenderness and swelling in your stomach, purple spots on your skin and black or tar-like stools

Talk to your doctor straight away if you notice any of the following serious side effects:

• Mental problems with unusual thoughts and strange visions (hallucinations)
• Severe watery diarrhoea that will not stop and you are feeling weak and have a fever. This may be something called ‘Pseudomembranous colitis’
• Severe stomach pain which may reach through to your back. This could be a sign of pancreatitis
• Your fits get worse or you start to have fits
• Flu-like symptoms including chills, fever, headache, dizziness and bone pains

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following side effects:

• Water retention (oedema) which may cause swollen face, stomach, arms or legs
• Muscle weakness or pain or loss of muscle reflexes
• Dizziness, feel lightheaded and faint especially when you stand or sit up quickly (due to low blood pressure)
• Swollen fingers, toes or ankles
• Hair loss
• Balance problems with dizziness (vertigo)
• Being unable to concentrate, feeling nervous, irritable or depressed
• Feeling very tired and weak or difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Unusual skin sensations such as feeling numb, tingling, pricking, burning or creeping on the skin (paraesthesia)
• Short-term memory loss, anxiety, being less alert or responsive
• Blurred or distorted eyesight
• Wasting of muscles or other body tissues
• Weight loss, night sweats and fever. These could be signs of a blood condition called eosinophilia
• Feeling sick or being sick

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get serious or lasts longer than a few days:

• Skin flushing or itching
• Irregular periods
• Constipation, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort or dry mouth
• Headache
• Loss of a p petite (a n o rexia)
• Breast enlargement in men
• Increased thirst, going to the toilet more often and feeling tired. Your blood sugar may be high
• Acne

Other side effects you should discuss with your doctor if you are concerned about them

• You notice an orange or reddish colour in your urine, sweat, phlegm (sputum), saliva or tears. This is quite common and you need not worry. However, the red colour may permanently stain soft contact lenses. The red colour in tears may last for some time after you have stopped having Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets.

Blood tests

• A blood test may show changes in the way the liver is working

How to store Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets

Keep this medicine in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it.

Do not use Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister packs. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store below 25°C

Medicines should not be disposed of via waterwaste or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

Further information

What Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets contain:

• Each tablet contains 150mg of rifampicin and 100mg of isoniazid. These are the active ingredients
• The other ingredients are sodium lauryl sulphate, calcium stearate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, acacia, gelatine, kaolin, magnesium carbonate light, talc, titanium dioxide (E171), colloidal silicon dioxide, polyvinylpyrollidone K30, sucrose, carnauba wax, colophony, white beeswax, hard paraffin, Erythrosine (E127)

What Rifinah 150/100 mgTablets look like and contents of the pack

The tablets are cyclamen, smooth, shiny, round, curved and sugar coated. Each pack contains 84 tablets.