What foods should you avoid while taking Rifampin?

Posted by angeles31 @angeles31, Oct 13, 2023

What food shouid you avoid whike taking Rifampin. I read on line that you shouid not eat cheese or fermented products. So can you eat yogurt ?
Does anyone have experience with taking Rifampin?
I know you can’t have alcohol. Thank you for your comments .

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@angeles31 I think what you may have read,online was referring to combination treatment using Rifampin and isoniazid - this is one of the combinations used to treat TB.
There is no such precaution with Rifampin except to avoid alcohol. This is a good idea when using most antibiotics as the liver is working hard to process them, and the added stress of alcohol is unwise.

Yes! To yogurt and other fermented foods, the helpful bacteria found in them help protect your gut from the ravages of all the drugs. It's especially helpful if you can find minimally processed yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchee as they contain live cultures, and generally more varieties of them.

Are you just starting the 3 antibiotic therapy?
Sue

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angeles33; I used rifabutin for about four months but i could not tolerate it- my liver enzymes were skyrocketing so eventually it was stopped. your situation can be different of course but make sure your doctor checks liver enzymes. good luck with your therapy.

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@sueinmn

@angeles31 I think what you may have read,online was referring to combination treatment using Rifampin and isoniazid - this is one of the combinations used to treat TB.
There is no such precaution with Rifampin except to avoid alcohol. This is a good idea when using most antibiotics as the liver is working hard to process them, and the added stress of alcohol is unwise.

Yes! To yogurt and other fermented foods, the helpful bacteria found in them help protect your gut from the ravages of all the drugs. It's especially helpful if you can find minimally processed yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchee as they contain live cultures, and generally more varieties of them.

Are you just starting the 3 antibiotic therapy?
Sue

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My rifampin bottle say do not eat one hour before and 2 hours after each dose. At twice a day, what a pain for anyone taking AZ also and trying to add weight on.

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@rstel7272

My rifampin bottle say do not eat one hour before and 2 hours after each dose. At twice a day, what a pain for anyone taking AZ also and trying to add weight on.

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Rick - when I was on Rifampin, my ID doc told me to take all of it at bedtime because you are right, dividing the dose makes life with MAC even more complicated. Maybe check with your doc via a message?
Sue

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@rstel7272

My rifampin bottle say do not eat one hour before and 2 hours after each dose. At twice a day, what a pain for anyone taking AZ also and trying to add weight on.

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Before I take rifampin I checked Google ,the instruction was: Rifampin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. Rifampin works best on an empty stomach; take it 1 hour before or at least 2 hours after a meal. If you have difficulty swallowing the capsule, you may empty its contents into applesauce or jelly. Take rifampin exactly as directed.
What I understand from this instruction is taken the medication with empty stomach (at least 2 hours empty). After taking this medicine at least one hour not to eat.

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@rstel7272

My rifampin bottle say do not eat one hour before and 2 hours after each dose. At twice a day, what a pain for anyone taking AZ also and trying to add weight on.

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I take all day dosage rifampin and ethambutol together when I get up at 7am.with a glass of water and empty stomach.after an hour I take morning clarithromycin.with my breakfast. I eat as much as I can . I have avoided continuing losing weight ,although hard to gaining weight.

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@liangni1

Before I take rifampin I checked Google ,the instruction was: Rifampin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. Rifampin works best on an empty stomach; take it 1 hour before or at least 2 hours after a meal. If you have difficulty swallowing the capsule, you may empty its contents into applesauce or jelly. Take rifampin exactly as directed.
What I understand from this instruction is taken the medication with empty stomach (at least 2 hours empty). After taking this medicine at least one hour not to eat.

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That's my take. I did 1x morn and 1x nightly. I know ethambutol should be all pills at once per njh guidelines.

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I dropped the Rifampin from my routine; too many side effects. Although---I think I felt better while taking it, in SOME ways.

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@dorma

I dropped the Rifampin from my routine; too many side effects. Although---I think I felt better while taking it, in SOME ways.

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What antibiotic was substituted for it?

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I've not been back to the doctor yet; he said come in January! I'm really skeptical about all these meds, but I got worse when I stopped taking them all, after 14 months. So, I got back on the other two.

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