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Choose the species
One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Combination therapy: atypical mycobacteria, resistant Staph (endocarditis, deep pyoderma with amoxi/clav or TMP/sulfa), actinomycosis, rhodococcosis
DogExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Combination therapy: atypical mycobacteria, resistant Staph (endocarditis, deep pyoderma with amoxi/clav or TMP/sulfa), actinomycosis, rhodococcosis — Extra-label (human drug)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Atypical mycobacterial infections (combination)
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Atypical mycobacterial infections (combination) — Extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens5
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects53
Orange body fluids — Expected, harmless
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
↑ liver enzymes, GI distress, rashes — Uncommon but real
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hepatotoxicity (serious) — Preexisting liver disease risk
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Death5 reports
- Anorexia4 reports
- Diarrhoea3 reports
- Shaking3 reports
- Decreased appetite2 reports
- Decreased cholesterol (total)2 reports
- Drooling2 reports
- Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)2 reports
- Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)2 reports
- Elevated liver enzymes2 reports
- Hypoalbuminaemia2 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS2 reports
Monitoring1
CBC, liver screen, urinalysis q2–3 weeks; efficacy of EVERY co-medication (CYP induction)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Rifamycin hypersensitivity
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions5
Hepatic dysfunction (reduce dose); monotherapy forbidden — resistance emerges within days
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Rule zero: rifampin is never given alone — resistance develops catastrophically fast; pair per susceptibility.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The massive CYP induction makes it the classic "drug that makes other drugs disappear" — recheck doses of immunosuppressants, antifungals, and anticoagulants whenever rifampin starts or stops.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Body fluids turn orange — a harmless side effect that terrifies uninformed owners (stain warning for contact lenses/fabric).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Intracellular niche (mycobacteria, Rhodococcus inside macrophages) is its clinical identity alongside the combination rule.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
ALL CYP450-metabolized drugs (cyclosporine, ketoconazole/itraconazole, corticosteroids, digitoxin, warfarin, theophylline, barbiturates, midazolam, propranolol, chloramphenicol, TMPS, doxycycline...) — Rifampin INDUCES their metabolism → therapeutic failure — the interaction list is the drug
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Azole antifungals — Bidirectional (azole ↑ rifampin; rifampin ↓ azole)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hepatotoxic drugs — Additive liver injury
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics3
Distribution — Excellent intracellular/CNS penetration
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Hepatic; potent CYP inducer — auto-induces its own clearance
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Note — Give on empty stomach preferred
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Teratogenicity at high doses in lab animals — avoid in pregnancy where alternatives exist.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1042–1043 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references15
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Combining lefamulin with rifampin provides in vitro synergistic antimicrobial effects against Rhodococcus equi isolates susceptible to macrolides and rifampin.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- ADMCs-derived exosomal vesicles encapsulated with rifampicin to attenuate Klebsiella pneumonia-induced pediatric lung inflammation: In-vitro and In vivo studies.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Extensively drug-resistant and heat-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in ready-to-eat meat products.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Rhodococcus equi and the Promise of Synergistic Therapies.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- High-Dose Rifampicin Plus Albendazole Rapidly Clears Lymphatic Filariasis Circulating Filarial Antigen in a Randomised Clinical Trial: A Promising Step Toward Short-Course Macrofilaricidal Therapy.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.