Prophylaxis of Mycobacterium avium in patients with low CD4 count: 300 mg dailyTreatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, in combination with other drugs: 450–600 mg dailyTreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, in combination with other drugs: 150–450 mg daily
DOSE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPIES
CAPD                :Unlikely to be dialysed. Dose as in GFR <10 mL/min
HD                     :Not dialysed. Dose as in GFR <10 mL/min
HDF/high flux   :Not dialysed. Dose as in GFR <10 mL/min
CAV/VVHD      :Unknown dialysability. Dose as in GFR=10–30 mL/min
IMPORTANT DRUG INTERACTIONS
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Anti-arrhythmics: metabolism of disopyramide accelerated
Antibacterials: clarithromycin and other macrolides increase concentration of rifabutin, resulting in increased risk of uveitis – reduce rifabutin dose; reduced concentration of dapsone and clarithromycin
Anticoagulants: reduced anticoagulant effect of coumarinsAntidiabetics: reduced antidiabetic effect of chlorpropamide and tolbutamide; possibly reduced antidiabetic effect with sulphonylureas
Anti-epileptics: reduced concentration of phenytoin and carbamazepine
Antifungals: fluconazole, triazoles, posaconazole and voriconazole increase the concentration of rifabutin resulting in increased risk of uveitis – reduce rifabutin dose; rifabutin reduces concentration of posaconazole, voriconazole and itraconazole – increase voriconazole dose, avoid with itraconazole
Antipsychotics: possibly reduced aripiprazole concentration – increase dose of aripiprazole
Antivirals: amprenavir, atazanavir darunavir, nelfinavir and tipranavir and possibly nevirapine increase concentration of rifabutin – halve or reduce dose of rifabutin; efavirenz reduces the concentration of rifabutin – increase dose of rifabutin; indinavir increases rifabutin concentration– reduce dose of rifabutin; concentration of indinavir reduced when given together – increase indinavir dose; ritonavir increases the concentration of rifabutin resulting in increased risk of uveitis – avoid concomitant use; concentration of saquinavir reduced – avoid concomitant use unless another protease inhibitor is also givenAtovaquone: concentration of atovaquone reduced (possible therapeutic failure of atovaquone)
Ciclosporin: possibly reduced ciclosporin levelsCorticosteroids: reduced level of corticosteroids – double steroid dose. Give as twice daily dosageOestrogens and progestogens: reduced contraceptive effect due to increased metabolismSirolimus: reduced sirolimus concentration – avoid
Can cause an orange-tan skin pigmentation as well as discoloured urineCan cause abnormal LFTs and hepatitis Can cause uveitis especially in combination with clarithromycin and fluconazoleRifabutin is a less potent CYP4503A enzyme inducer than rifampicin but similar interactions may occur.