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glecaprevir/pibrentasvir vs rifampin

Side-by-side comparison of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and rifampin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

major Known Drug Interaction

Antimycobacterials: Rifampin ↓ glecaprevir ↓ pibrentasvir Coadministration is contraindicated because of potential loss of therapeutic effect [see Contraindications ( 4 ) ] .

Recommendation: Do not take these medications together because the hepatitis C treatment will not work correctly.

Drug Class
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir NS3/4A/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV)
rifampin Rifamycin Antibiotic
Type
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir Prescription
rifampin Prescription
Summary
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret is a medicine used to treat hepatitis C (HCV) in adults and children 3 years and older. It contains two drugs, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, that work together to stop the virus from multiplying.

rifampin

Rifampin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat infections.

What It Treats
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret treats hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. It can be used in people without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis. Mavyret can also treat genotype 1 in people who have already been treated with certain other HCV medicines.

rifampin

Rifampin treats tuberculosis (TB) and helps eliminate the bacteria that cause meningitis from your nose and throat. It is important to use rifampin only for infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. This helps to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to the medicine.

How It Works
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret contains glecaprevir and pibrentasvir. Glecaprevir blocks a protein called NS3/4A protease that the virus needs to multiply. Pibrentasvir blocks a protein called NS5A, also needed for the virus to multiply. By blocking these proteins, Mavyret stops the hepatitis C virus from spreading in your body.

rifampin

Rifampin works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying. It does this by blocking a key enzyme that the bacteria need to make proteins. This helps your body fight off the infection.

Common Side Effects
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
  • Nausea
rifampin
  • Heartburn
  • Upset stomach
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
  • Feeling tired 2,561
  • Headache 2,203
  • Nausea 1,125
  • Itching 653
  • Diarrhea 477
rifampin
  • Drug Interaction 970
  • Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms 727
  • Nausea 628
  • Condition Aggravated 550
  • Pyrexia 541
Serious Warnings
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Mavyret can cause hepatitis B to become active again if you have had it in the past. This can cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. Your doctor will test you for hepatitis B before you start Mavyret. They will also monitor you during and after treatment.

rifampin

Rifampin can cause liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or stomach pain. Rifampin can also cause blood problems. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bleeding or bruising.

Pregnancy
glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

It is not known if Mavyret will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Mavyret passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Mavyret.

rifampin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Rifampin can make birth control pills less effective, so use other forms of birth control. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

How to Read This glecaprevir/pibrentasvir vs rifampin Comparison

glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is classified in the NS3/4A/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV) drug class, while rifampin sits within the Rifamycin Antibiotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir has 7,019 submissions while rifampin has 3,416. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to rifampin lowers the levels of the hepatitis c medicine in your body. this makes the treatment less effective and may prevent it from curing the infection.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and rifampin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.