Drug interactions
Bcg intravesical live + Rifaximin
Severity: Moderate
Bcg intravesical live and Rifaximin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Intravesical BCG depends on viable mycobacteria to induce a local immune response against bladder cancer. Antibiotics with antimycobacterial activity may reduce BCG viability and therapeutic effect. Rifaximin is minimally absorbed and its systemic exposure is low, so the risk is lower than with systemic antituberculous agents.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bcg intravesical live and Rifaximin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Antibacterial activity may reduce viability of the live BCG organisms, though rifaximin has little systemic exposure.
What to do
Where possible, defer BCG instillations until the antibiotic course is finished. If rifaximin must continue, monitor response to BCG therapy.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Bcg intravesical live and Rifaximin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Rifaximin
- Cholera vaccine + Rifaximin Major
- Microbiota + Rifaximin Major
- Amiodarone + Rifaximin Moderate
- Cyclosporine + Rifaximin Moderate
- Cyclosporin + Rifaximin Moderate
- Dronedarone + Rifaximin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bcg intravesical live with Rifaximin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Bcg intravesical live and Rifaximin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Intravesical BCG depends on viable mycobacteria to induce a local immune response against bladder cancer. Antibiotics with antimycobacterial activity may reduce BCG viability and therapeutic effect. Rifaximin is minimally absorbed and its systemic exposure is low, so the risk is lower than with systemic antituberculous agents.
How serious is the interaction between Bcg intravesical live and Rifaximin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Where possible, defer BCG instillations until the antibiotic course is finished. If rifaximin must continue, monitor response to BCG therapy.
What other medicines interact with Rifaximin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Rifaximin with, for example, Cholera vaccine, Microbiota, Amiodarone. The full list is on the Rifaximin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
