Mycobutin

This page contains drug information on Mycobutin.
The information provided includes the following:
what is Mycobutin
the possible side effects of Mycobutin
what happens if you miss a dose of Mycobutin
what happens if you overdose with Mycobutin
the most important information about Mycobutin
how to use Mycobutin
other drugs that may affect Mycobutin
what to avoid while using Mycobutin
 

Generic Name: rifabutin (rif a BYOO tin)
Brand Names: Mycobutin
 
What is the most important information I should know about mycobutin?
 •  Take all of the mycobutin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated.
 •  Call your doctor immediately if you experience a fever, chills, muscle or bone pain, blurred vision, eye pain or redness, a headache, excessive tiredness or weakness, a sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow skin or eyes.
 •  mycobutin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control during treatment with mycobutin to prevent pregnancy.

What is mycobutin?
 •  mycobutin is an antibiotic. It prevents bacteria from multiplying in your body.
 •  mycobutin is used to prevent Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in people with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
 •  mycobutin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take mycobutin?
 •  You cannot take mycobutin if you have
      · ever had an allergic reaction to mycobutin
      · active tuberculosis. mycobutin will not effectively treat active tuberculosis, and it may cause the infection to become resistant to treatment.
 •  mycobutin is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not likely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
 •  It is not known whether mycobutin passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take mycobutin?
 •  Take mycobutin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
 •  Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
 •  mycobutin can be taken with or without food. Taking mycobutin with food may decrease stomach upset.
 •  The capsules can be opened and sprinkled onto applesauce if you have trouble swallowing them.
 •  Take all of the mycobutin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated.
 •  Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?
 •  Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?
 •  Seek emergency medical attention.
 •  Symptoms of a mycobutin overdose are unknown but might include nausea, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pain, yellow skin or eyes, and unconsciousness.

What should I avoid while taking mycobutin?
 •  Do not wear contact lenses while taking mycobutin. This medicine may turn your tears, sweat, saliva, urine, feces, and contact lenses a red-orange color. This effect may be permanent on contact lenses.
 •  mycobutin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy during treatment with mycobutin.

What are the possible side effects of mycobutin?
 •  If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking mycobutin and seek emergency medical attention:
      · an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing closing of your throat swelling of your lips, tongue, or face or hives)
      · fever, chills, or a sore throat
      · muscle or bone pain
      · excessive tiredness or weakness
      · a headache
      · blurred vision
      · eye pain or redness
      · unusual bruising or bleeding or
      · yellow skin or eyes.
 •  Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take mycobutin and talk to your doctor if you experience
      · red-orange coloration of tears, sweat, saliva, urine, or feces
      · nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite
      · changes in taste
      · insomnia or
      · a rash.
 •  Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect mycobutin?
 •  mycobutin may decrease the effects of the following drugs:
      · acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
      · blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
      · barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), secobarbital (Seconal), and butabarbital (Butisol)
      · benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and temazepam (Restoril)
      · beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), and metoprolol (Lopressor)
      · heart medicines such as digoxin (Lanoxin), disopyramide (Norpace), quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Cardioquin, others), mexiletine (Mexitil), tocainide (Tonocard), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), and enalapril (Vasotec)
      · corticosteroids such as prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, Meticorten), prednisolone (Delta Cortef, Prelone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and betamethasone (Celestone)
      · sulfonylureas such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), and tolazamide (Tolinase)
      · sulfa medicines such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol, Azo-Gantanol), and sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin, Azo-Gantrisin)
      · estrogens such as Premarin, Ogen, Estrace, Menest, Estratab, Ortho-Est, and others
      · oral birth control pills such as Triphasil, Ortho-Novum, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, Ovral, Lo/ Ovral, Desogen, Nordette, Levora, Levlen, Tri-Levlen, Nelova, Norinyl, Brevicon, Ovcon, Loestrin, Demulen, and others
      · phenytoin (Dilantin), ethotoin (Peganone), and mephenytoin (Mesantoin)
      · theophylline (Theolair, Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theo-Bid, others)
      · methadone (Dolophine)
      · clofibrate (Atromid-S)
      · cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
      · zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir) and
      · ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan).
 •  You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
 •  Before taking mycobutin, tell your doctor if you are taking
      · delavirdine (Rescriptor),
      · indinavir (Crixivan),
      · saquinavir (Invirase),
      · ritonavir (Norvir), or
      · nelfinavir (Viracept).
 •  mycobutin may interact with the medicines listed above which could lead to dangerous side effects. 
 •  Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with mycobutin or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.