Skip to content

Drug interactions

Rifapentine + Sirolimus

Severity: Major

Rifapentine and Sirolimus: major 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

Rifapentine is a CYP3A4 inducer and can markedly reduce sirolimus exposure, risking subtherapeutic immunosuppression and rejection. The label for sirolimus advises against combining with strong inducers.

What this interaction means in plain words

Rifapentine and Sirolimus can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.

Rifapentine belongs to Anti Bacterial; Sirolimus belongs to Miscellaneous.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Rifapentine induces hepatic and intestinal CYP3A4 and P-gp, increasing sirolimus clearance.

What to do

Avoid the combination where possible and consider an alternative regimen. If unavoidable, monitor sirolimus troughs frequently and adjust the dose, then readjust after rifapentine is stopped.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
  • Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
  • What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Rifapentine and Sirolimus, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Rifapentine with Sirolimus?

MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Rifapentine and Sirolimus can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Rifapentine is a CYP3A4 inducer and can markedly reduce sirolimus exposure, risking subtherapeutic immunosuppression and rejection. The label for sirolimus advises against combining with strong inducers.

How serious is the interaction between Rifapentine and Sirolimus?

MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination where possible and consider an alternative regimen. If unavoidable, monitor sirolimus troughs frequently and adjust the dose, then readjust after rifapentine is stopped.

What other medicines interact with Sirolimus?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Sirolimus with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal. The full list is on the Sirolimus 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.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in