Drug interactions
Ensitrelvir + Rifampicin
Severity: Contraindicated
Ensitrelvir and Rifampicin: contraindicated 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
Rifampicin strongly induces CYP3A and can markedly lower ensitrelvir plasma concentrations. Subtherapeutic exposure may cause loss of antiviral activity and treatment failure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ensitrelvir and Rifampicin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Ensitrelvir belongs to Anti Virals; Rifampicin belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Rifampicin induces CYP3A (and transporters), accelerating ensitrelvir metabolism and lowering exposure.
What to do
Do not co-administer; select an alternative COVID-19 antiviral not affected by strong inducers. If rifampicin is essential, avoid ensitrelvir.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Ensitrelvir
- Apalutamide + Ensitrelvir Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Ensitrelvir Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Ensitrelvir Contraindicated
- Ensitrelvir + Enzalutamide Contraindicated
- Ensitrelvir + Eplerenone Contraindicated
- Ensitrelvir + Finerenone Contraindicated
Other interactions of Rifampicin
- Cabotegravir + Rifampicin Contraindicated
- Delamanid + Rifampicin Contraindicated
- Doravirine + Rifampicin Contraindicated
- Fostemsavir + Rifampicin Contraindicated
- Isavuconazole + Rifampicin Contraindicated
- Isavuconazonium + Rifampicin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ensitrelvir with Rifampicin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Ensitrelvir and Rifampicin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Rifampicin strongly induces CYP3A and can markedly lower ensitrelvir plasma concentrations. Subtherapeutic exposure may cause loss of antiviral activity and treatment failure.
How serious is the interaction between Ensitrelvir and Rifampicin?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not co-administer; select an alternative COVID-19 antiviral not affected by strong inducers. If rifampicin is essential, avoid ensitrelvir.
What other medicines interact with Ensitrelvir?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ensitrelvir with, for example, Apalutamide, Carbamazepine, Colchicine. The full list is on the Ensitrelvir page.
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