Emtricitabine and Rifabutin interaction
Emtricitabine and Rifabutin: the Rifabutin prescribing label flags this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.
Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.
What the FDA labels say
From the Rifabutin label · effective 2026-09-01
Bictegravir 75 mg once a day 300 mg once a day (fasted) Healthy subjects ND ↓ AUC 38% ↓ C min 56% ↓ C max 20% Co-administration of rifabutin with Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/ tenofovir alafenamide) is not recommended due to an expected decrease in tenofovir alafenamide in addition to the reported reduction in bictegravir.
ND ↓ AUC by 42% ↓ C min by 48% ↓ C max by 31% Co-administration of rifabutin with Odefsey (rilpivirine/tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine) is not recommended, due to an expected decrease in tenofovir alafenamide in addition to the reported reduction in rilpivirine.
Therefore, co-administration with antiretroviral and anti-HCV drugs metabolized by CYP3A is not recommended or there may be a need to increase the dose of antiretroviral or anti-HCV drugs (see PRECAUTIONS-Drug Interactions ).
The concomitant use of protease inhibitors may require at least a 50% reduction in rifabutin dose, and depending on the protease inhibitor, an adjustment of the antiretroviral drug dose.
Co-administration with antiretroviral drugs metabolized by CYP3A, including but not limited to products containing bictegravir, elvitegravir, oral rilpivirine, or doravirine and anti-HCV drugs including but not limited to sofosbuvir (alone or in combination) may decrease plasma concentrations of those drugs, which may lead to loss of virologic response and possible…
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Open in the checkerNot medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.