Rifampicin 150 mg, 100 capsules: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Rifampicin 150 mg, 100 capsules. Active substance: Рифампицин / Rifampicin.
- What it is: rifampicin, an ansamycin antibacterial with antitubercular activity.
- Presentation: 150 mg capsules, 100 capsules per pack.
- Status: prescription-only medicine.
- Research: work in tuberculosis treatment and drug resistance, links below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Rifampicin |
|---|---|
| Form | Capsules |
| Strength | 150 mg per capsule |
| Pack size | 100 capsules |
| Category | Prescription medicine |
| Article (SKU) |
What rifampicin is
Rifampicin belongs to the ansamycin group. It is obtained from the metabolic products of a soil bacterium, and it is one of the few natural antibiotics that act on the agent of tuberculosis.
The spectrum is broad: the substance affects mycobacteria and a number of other organisms. That is why rifampicin holds a central place in tuberculosis treatment regimens.
The product is supplied as capsules for oral use.
How it works
The target
Rifampicin blocks the bacterial enzyme RNA polymerase, which reads information from DNA.
The result
Without working RNA polymerase, the bacterium cannot make RNA and therefore cannot make proteins. The cell loses the ability to sustain life and dies.
The nature of the effect
The action is called bactericidal: the drug destroys the organism rather than only pausing its multiplication.
Approved uses
The main indication is the treatment of all forms of tuberculosis as part of a combination regimen. Rifampicin is not used alone here: mycobacteria develop resistance to it quickly when it acts on its own.
The second direction is the treatment of leprosy. In addition, in exceptional cases the medicine is used for severe infections caused by organisms resistant to other antibiotics, for example staphylococcal disease.
Carriage of meningococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b, as well as legionellosis, is mentioned separately. The list of indications and the way the medicine is used are set by a physician.
What the doctor takes into account
Rifampicin increases the activity of liver enzymes, so it speeds up the clearance of many medicines and can weaken their effect. Among them are contraceptive pills, blood thinners, and some antifungal and anticonvulsant drugs.
Because of this, a doctor asks about the full list of medicines in particular detail. Companion treatment is adjusted when needed.
Alcohol must not be consumed during treatment, as it adds to the load on the liver. The medicine is also known to colour urine, tears and other body fluids orange, and this is an ordinary effect worth knowing about in advance.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- A Pragmatic Trial of a 6-Month Strategy for Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis., PubMed 42341301 (The New England journal of medicine, 2026).
- Why Do We Use 600 mg of Rifampicin in Tuberculosis Treatment?, PubMed 21467012 (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2011).
- Beta-lactam combination treatment overcomes rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis., PubMed 40048098 (European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2025).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine and is used only as directed by a physician.
- In tuberculosis, rifampicin is taken as part of a combination regimen, not as the only medicine.
- Alcohol must not be consumed during treatment.
- The medicine speeds up the clearance of many drugs, so a doctor needs to know about every other medicine taken.
- Liver impairment, jaundice and hypersensitivity to rifampicin are discussed with a doctor individually.
- The medicine colours urine, tears and other body fluids orange. This is an expected effect.
Frequently asked
Is rifampicin a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription antitubercular medicine.
Can it be taken alone, without other drugs?
No. In tuberculosis, rifampicin is used only as part of a combination regimen set by a physician.
Why does the colour of urine change?
This is a known property of rifampicin: it colours body fluids orange.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.