- Rifampin can turn urine, saliva, or tears orange. The doctor or nurse may advise you not to wear soft contact lenses because they may get stained.
- Rifampin can make you more sensitive to the sun. This means you should use a good sunscreen and cover exposed areas so you don't burn.
- Rifampin also makes birth control pills and implants less effective. Women who take rifampin should use another form of birth control.
- If you are taking rifampin as well as methadone (used to treat drug addiction), you may have withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor or nurse may want to adjust your methadone dosage.
Why Do I Need to Take Tuberculosis Medicine Regularly?
TB bacteria die very slowly. It takes at least 6 months for the medicine to kill all the tuberculosis bacteria. You will probably start feeling well after only a few weeks of treatment. But beware! The tuberculosis bacteria are still alive in your body. You must continue to take your medicine until all the tuberculosis bacteria are dead, even though you may feel better and have no more symptoms of tuberculosis disease.
If you don't continue taking your medicine after you feel better or you aren't taking your medicine regularly, this can be very dangerous. The TB bacteria will grow again and you will remain sick for a longer time. The bacteria may also become resistant to the drugs you are taking. You may need new, different drugs to kill the TB bacteria if the old drugs no longer work. These new drugs must be taken for a longer time and usually have more serious side effects.
If you become infectious again, you could give TB bacteria to your family, friends, or anyone else who spends time with you. It is very important to take your medicine the way your doctor or nurse tells you.
How Can I Remember to Take My Medicine?
The only way to get well is to take your medicine exactly as your doctor or nurse tells you. This will not be easy! You will be taking your medicine for a long time (6 months or longer), so you should get into a routine. Here are some ways to remember to take your medicine:
- Participate in the directly observed therapy (DOT) program at your health department.
- Take your pills at the same time every day -- for example, you can take them before eating breakfast, during a coffee break, or after brushing your teeth.
- Ask a family member or a friend to remind you to take your pills.
- Mark off each day on a calendar as your take your medicine.
- Put your pills in a weekly pill dispenser. Keep it by your bed or in your purse or pocket.
NOTE: Remember to keep all medicine out of reach of children.
If you forget to take your pills one day, skip that dose and take the next scheduled dose. Tell your doctor or nurse that you missed a dose. You may also call your doctor or nurse for instructions.
The best way to remember to take your medicine is to get directly observed therapy (DOT). If you get DOT, you will meet with a health care worker every day or several times a week. You will meet at a place you both agree on. This can be the TB clinic, your home or work, or any other convenient location. You will take your medicine at this place.
DOT helps in several ways. The health care worker can help you remember to take your medicine and complete your treatment. This means you will get well as soon as possible. With DOT, you may need to take medicine only 2 or 3 times each week instead of every day. The health care worker will make sure that the medicine is working as it should. This person will also watch for side effects and answer questions you have about TB.
Even if you are not getting DOT, you must be checked at different times to make sure everything is going well. You should see your doctor or nurse regularly while you are taking your medicine. This will continue until you are cured.
