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rifampin vs rolapitant

Side-by-side comparison of rifampin and rolapitant. 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

rifampin) Clinical Impact: Co-administration of VARUBI with rifampin can significantly reduce the plasma concentrations of rolapitant and decrease the efficacy of VARUBI [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., rifampin) : significantly reduced plasma concentrations of rolapitant can decrease the efficacy of VARUBI; avoid use of VARUBI in patients who require chronic administration of such drugs.

Recommendation: Avoid using this combination if you are taking rifampin on a long-term basis. Your doctor will need to find a different medicine for you.

Drug Class
rifampin Rifamycin Antibiotic
rolapitant NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic)
Type
rifampin Prescription
rolapitant Prescription
Summary
rifampin

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

rolapitant

Varubi is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is used with other anti-nausea medicines.

What It Treats
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.

rolapitant

Varubi is used to prevent delayed nausea and vomiting in adults. This nausea and vomiting is caused by cancer chemotherapy. It is used for both the first and repeat treatments of chemotherapy.

How It Works
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.

rolapitant

Varubi blocks a substance in your body called substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1). This substance can cause nausea and vomiting. By blocking it, Varubi helps prevent these side effects from chemotherapy.

Common Side Effects
rifampin
  • Heartburn
  • Upset stomach
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
rolapitant
  • Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
  • Hiccups
  • Abdominal pain
  • Decreased appetite
  • Dizziness
FAERS Reports
rifampin
  • Drug Interaction 970
  • Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms 727
  • Nausea 628
  • Condition Aggravated 550
  • Pyrexia 541
rolapitant
  • Death 141
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 79
  • Feeling tired 50
  • Reaction to the IV medicine 40
  • Difficulty breathing 34
Serious Warnings
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.

rolapitant

You should not take Varubi if you are taking thioridazine or pimozide. These drugs can cause serious heart problems if taken with Varubi. Varubi can increase the levels of these drugs in your blood, leading to QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes, which are dangerous heart rhythm problems.

Pregnancy
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.

rolapitant

There is not enough information about Varubi use in pregnant women to know if it is safe. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Varubi passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare rolapitant with

How to Read This rifampin vs rolapitant Comparison

rifampin is classified in the Rifamycin Antibiotic drug class, while rolapitant sits within the NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 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, rifampin has 3,416 submissions while rolapitant has 344. 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 significantly lowers the levels of rolapitant in your blood. this makes the medication much less effective at preventing nausea and vomiting.. 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 rifampin and rolapitant - 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.