What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Prednisolone and rifampin
Prednisolone's FDA label of June 25, 2026 names rifampin in its drug interactions section; the rifampin label PlainMeds reads does not name prednisolone. The prednisolone label: “Drug Interactions Drugs such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of prednisolone and require that the dosage of …”
Check it at the source: the prednisolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 25, 2026, PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma); the rifampin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 11, 2026, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the prednisolone label say about rifampin?
Prednisolone label, drug interactionsDrug Interactions Drugs such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of prednisolone and require that the dosage of Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution be increased.
Orapred Odt label (Advanz Pharma (US) Corp., June 3, 2025), drug interactionsCYP 3A4 inducers (e.g. barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin): Drugs such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of prednisolone and require that the dosage of Orapred be increased.
Source: FDA drug label (Orapred Odt, NDA021959), Advanz Pharma (US) Corp., effective June 3, 2025 (SPL set 1e379543-c4cf-4e72-953b-db15b7f0c2a1), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (PrednisoLONE Sodium Phosphate), PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma, effective June 25, 2026 (SPL set d1f937e7-fed5-4079-bd52-5d930b34ae9f), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the rifampin label say about prednisolone?
Rifampin's label (effective February 11, 2026) does not name prednisolone in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (rifampin), Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective February 11, 2026 (SPL set b56004f0-f23d-47f6-80c7-39884fccbccc), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Prednisolone | Rifampin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Organ transplant rejection | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $4.72 per mL 1% eye drop | $0.679 per capsule 300 mg capsule |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once