Praziquantel/Rifampin
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Rifampin may speed up how quickly your liver processes praziquantel.
What might happen:
If you are taking rifampin or have taken rifampin in the previous two weeks, your praziquantel may not work as well.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know right away that you are taking these medicines together or if you have taken rifampin in the previous four weeks. Your doctor may want to change your medicine.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Biltricide (praziquantel) US prescribing information. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. August, 2010.
2.Ridtitid W, Wongnawa M, Mahatthanatrakul W, Punyo J, Sunbhanich M. Rifampin markedly decreases plasma concentrations of praziquantel in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002 Nov;72(5):505-13.
