Rifabutin and Zidovudine interaction
Rifabutin and Zidovudine: 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
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 ).
Lopinavir/ ritonavir 400/100 mg twice a day for 20 days 150 mg once a day for 10 days Healthy subjects (14) ↑ AUC by 203% also taking zidovudine 500 mg once a day ↓ C max by 112% ↔ Reduce rifabutin dose by at least 75% (to a maximum 150 mg every other day or three times per week) when given with lopinavir/ritonavir combination.
Zidovudine 100 or 200 mg every four hours 300 or 450 mg once a day HIV-infected patients (16) ↔ ↓ AUC by 32%, ↓ C max by 48%, Because zidovudine levels remained within the therapeutic range during co-administration of rifabutin, dosage adjustments are not necessary.
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.