NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.
RIMYCIN
rifampicin capsules
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about RIMYCIN. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking RIMYCIN against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What RIMYCIN is used for
RIMYCIN is an antibiotic that is used in combination with other medicines to treat tuberculosis, also known as TB.
TB is a bacterial infection, which mainly affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other organs in the body.
RIMYCIN is also used to treat leprosy, a skin condition that has many forms.
RIMYCIN can also be used to prevent certain diseases occurring where you may be in contact with, or have had contact with, a person known to have the disease or is known to be able to pass it on to others.
Examples of such diseases are meningitis (a serious infectious disease involving inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord) which affects children and young adults, pneumonia, conjunctivitis and meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae, a bacterium in the respiratory tract.
RIMYCIN is also used to treat mycobacterium ulcerans (Buruli ulcer), in combination with other antibiotics.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you take RIMYCIN
When you must not take it
Do not take RIMYCIN if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing rifampicin
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take this medicine if you have jaundice.
(yellowing of the eyes and skin).
Do not take this medicine if you are taking combination saquinavir/ritonavir medications.
Do not breast-feeding if you are taking this medicine.
The active ingredient in RIMYCIN passes into breast milk and there is a possibility your baby may be affected.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start using Rimycin, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
any type of liver disease
problems with bleeding or tendency to bruise easily
diabetes
Tell your doctor if you are currently taking any other antibiotics.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking RIMYCIN.
Urine, faeces, saliva, sputum, sweat, tears and teeth may be a red-orange, yellow or brown colour when you are taking RIMYCIN. Soft contact lenses may be permanently stained.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and RIMYCIN may interfere with each other. These include:
antacids, used for heartburn and indigestion
atovaquone, used to treat a respiratory infection in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
ketoconazole, used for fungal infections
aspirin used as a pain killer or for preventing blood clots
isoniazid, used for TB (tuberculosis)
decreasing the clotting of the blood
controlling and preventing seizures
heart disease and high blood pressure
breast cancer treatment or prevention
sedation
bacterial infections
fungal infections
inflammatory conditions
contraception
high blood cholesterol
diabetes
tuberculosis and leprosy
malaria
rejection of transplanted organs
thyroid deficiency states
pain
nocturnal cramps
breathing difficulties
anxiety or depression
treatment of certain mental illnesses
treatment of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infections
nausea and vomiting
Some drugs should not be taken with
RIMYCIN. These include:
halothane, a general anaesthetic (a sleep-inducing drug)
the combination of saquinavir and ritonavir, antiviral agents used to treat acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections
daclatasvir, simeprevir, sofosbuvir and telaprevir, antiviral medicines used to treat Hepatitis C
cefazolin and other cefalosporin antibiotics used to treat infection
Your doctor or pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take RIMYCIN
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will decide what dose and for how long you will take RIMYCIN for.
How to take it
Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water.
When to take it
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
RIMYCIN should be taken 30 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
Take the dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much RIMYCIN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, itchy skin, fatigue, dizziness, swelling and abnormal heart beating.
While you are using RIMYCIN
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking RIMYCIN.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
Take RIMYCIN exactly as your doctor has prescribed. Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.
If you develop itching with swelling, a skin rash or have difficulty breathing, or if you turn yellow while you are taking RIMYCIN, stop taking it and tell your doctor immediately.
If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking RIMYCIN.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping RIMYCIN, tell your doctor.
If you get vaginal itching or discharge while taking or soon after stopping RIMYCIN, tell your doctor.
This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of RIMYCIN allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. This medicine does not work against fungi.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are using oral contraceptives you should change to alternative methods of birth control while you are taking RIMYCIN.
If you are about to have any blood or urine tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Things you must not do
Do not take RIMYCIN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
If you do not complete the full treatment as prescribed by your doctor, some of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely, or it may return.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how RIMYCIN affects you.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking RIMYCIN.
This medicine helps most people, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
yellow discolouration of skin or eyes
heartburn, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, wind, cramps or diarrhoea
drowsiness, fatigue, inability to concentrate or confusion
poor coordination, muscle weakness, pain in the fingers or toes, or numbness
oral thrush – white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
vaginal thrush – sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
conjunctivitis or visual disturbances
menstrual disturbances
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
red and/or itchy skin, blisters or pimples
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
shortness of breath and wheezing
blood in the urine or any other urination disturbances
fever, chills, headache or dizziness
bone pain
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After finishing RIMYCIN
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, especially if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with RIMYCIN:
severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
fever, in combination with one or both of the above
These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel, which may need urgent medical attention. However, this side effect is rare.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
After using RIMYCIN
Storage
Keep your capsules in the bottle until it is time to take them.
If you take the capsules out of the bottle they may not keep well.
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store RIMYCIN or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
RIMYCIN comes in different 2 strengths:
150 mg capsules – size 3 hard gelatin capsule, maroon body with black cap
300 mg capsules – size 1 hard gelatin capsule with maroon body and cap
RIMYCIN comes in bottles of 10 and 100 capsules.
Ingredients
RIMYCIN contains the active ingredient rifampicin:
The capsules also contain the following inactive ingredients:
lactose monohydrate
ascorbic acid
purified talc
magnesium stearate
colloidal anhydrous silica
sodium lauryl sulfate
gelatin
erythrosine CI 45430 (127)
brilliant blue FCF CI 42090 (133)
titanium dioxide CI 77891 (171)
RIMYCIN 150 capsules also contain:
iron oxide red CI 77491 (172)
iron oxide yellow CI 77492 (172)
RIMYCIN contains galactose and sulfites. The capsules are gluten free.
Manufacturer
RIMYCIN is made in Australia by:
Alphapharm Pty Ltd
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
www.mylan.com.au
Australian registration numbers:
RIMYCIN 150 – AUST R 48230
RIMYCIN 300 – AUST R 48231
This leaflet was prepared in September 2020.
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