Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Mycobutin.
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Mycobutin, like other antibiotics, may cause a potentially dangerous condition called antibiotic-associated, or pseudomembranous, colitis. Symptoms include severe, watery diarrhea that may be bloody. If you notice these symptoms, stop taking rifabutin and contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Bacterial resistance: Misuse of an antibiotic such as rifabutin may lead to the growth of resistant bacteria that will not be killed by the antibiotic. If this happens, the antibiotic may not work for you in the future. Although you may begin to feel better when you first start taking rifabutin, you need to take all the medication exactly as directed by your doctor to finish ridding your body of the infection and to prevent resistant bacteria from taking hold. Do not take rifabutin or other antibiotics to treat a viral infection such as The Common Cold; antibiotics do not kill viruses, and using them to treat viral infections can lead to the growth of resistant bacteria.
Blood counts: Mycobutin can decrease the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection), red blood cells (which carry oxygen), and platelets (which help your blood to clot). Your doctor will do blood tests to monitor this. If you notice any signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, or sore throat) or unusual bleeding or bruising, contact your doctor immediately.
Body fluids: Urine may be coloured brown-orange while taking Mycobutin. Your stools, saliva, sputum, perspiration, and tears may also be affected.
Contact lenses: The colouring of body fluids to a reddish-brown colour may cause soft contact lenses to become permanently discoloured. Hard contact lenses are not affected.
Hypersensitivity reactions: In rare cases, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS syndrome) may occur. This is more likely to occur for people who are taking medications to treat tuberculosis. This reaction may involve fever, swollen glands, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and flu-like symptoms with skin rash or blistering.,Get immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. If you experience any unusual symptoms, contact your doctor.
Kidney function: Kidney Disease or reduced kidney function may cause Mycobutin to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how Mycobutin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Mycobutin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Liver function: Severe liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Mycobutin to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Mycobutin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Mycobutin, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Mycobutin.
Tuberculosis: People with active tuberculosis should not use rifabutin. If you have this condition or suspect that you may have it (symptoms include cough, fever, poor appetite, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss), talk to your doctor.
Pregnancy: Mycobutin should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Mycobutin, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if rifabutin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Mycobutin, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Mycobutin to prevent MAC infection have not been established for children under 18 years of age. Rifabutin has been used to treat MAC infection in a small number of children.
