ledipasvir/sofosbuvir vs rifampin
Side-by-side comparison of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir and rifampin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
( 5.2 , 6.2 , 7.2 ) P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampin, St. P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampin, St. Antimycobacterials: rifabutin rifampin rifapentine ↓ ledipasvir ↓ sofosbuvir Coadministration of HARVONI with rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ].
Recommendation: This combination is not recommended and should be avoided.
Harvoni
Rifadin
Harvoni is a medicine that contains ledipasvir and sofosbuvir. It is used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults and children 3 years and older.
Rifampin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat infections.
Harvoni treats chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 4, 5, or 6. It can be used if you don't have cirrhosis or if you have compensated cirrhosis. If you have genotype 1 with decompensated cirrhosis or are a liver transplant recipient with genotype 1 or 4, you will take Harvoni with another medicine called ribavirin.
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.
Harvoni contains two medicines that stop the hepatitis C virus from multiplying in your body. Ledipasvir blocks a protein called NS5A. Sofosbuvir blocks another protein called NS5B.
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.
- • Feeling tired
- • Headache
- • Feeling weak
- • Nausea
- • Heartburn
- • Upset stomach
- • Loss of appetite
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- Feeling tired 4,130
- Headache 3,706
- Nausea 1,240
- Diarrhea 913
- Hepatitis C 883
- Drug Interaction 970
- Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms 727
- Nausea 628
- Condition Aggravated 550
- Pyrexia 541
Harvoni 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 Harvoni and monitor you during and after treatment.
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.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking Harvoni. If Harvoni is taken with ribavirin, it is unsafe during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
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 ledipasvir/sofosbuvir vs rifampin Comparison
ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is classified in the NS5A/NS5B 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, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir has 10,872 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to rifampin reduces the levels of harvoni in your body, which can prevent the medicine from treating your infection properly.. 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 ledipasvir/sofosbuvir 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.