Drug interactions
Praziquantel + Rifampin
Severity: Contraindicated
Praziquantel and Rifampin: 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
Rifampin dramatically reduces praziquantel concentrations, often to subtherapeutic levels, causing treatment failure. The effect can persist for some time after rifampin is stopped.
What this interaction means in plain words
Praziquantel and Rifampin 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.
Why it happens
Rifampin strongly induces CYP3A4 and other enzymes, greatly increasing praziquantel clearance.
What to do
Avoid coadministration; if rifampin must be used, delay praziquantel until rifampin has been stopped for about four weeks, as labeling advises, or choose another strategy.
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 Praziquantel
- Enzalutamide + Praziquantel Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Praziquantel Major
- Apalutamide + Praziquantel Major
- Butabarbital + Praziquantel Major
- Butalbital + Praziquantel Major
- Carbamazepine + Praziquantel Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Praziquantel with Rifampin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Praziquantel and Rifampin 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. Rifampin dramatically reduces praziquantel concentrations, often to subtherapeutic levels, causing treatment failure. The effect can persist for some time after rifampin is stopped.
How serious is the interaction between Praziquantel and Rifampin?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid coadministration; if rifampin must be used, delay praziquantel until rifampin has been stopped for about four weeks, as labeling advises, or choose another strategy.
What other medicines interact with Praziquantel?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Praziquantel with, for example, Enzalutamide, Amobarbital, Apalutamide. The full list is on the Praziquantel page.
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