Does Clopidogrel Interact With Rifampin?
Telaprevir Decrease AUC by 92% Systemic Hormonal Contraceptives Prevention or Management: Advise patients to change to non-hormonal methods of birth control during rifampin therapy Estrogens Decrease exposure Progestins Anticonvulsants Phenytoin Administered with rifampin 450 mg daily Decrease exposure Antiarrhythmics Disopyramide Decrease exposure Mexiletine Decrease exposure Quinidine Decrease exposure Propafenone Decrease AUC by 50%–67% Tocainide Decrease exposure Antiestrogens Tamoxifen D…
Severity: Major
Severity basis: drug interactions section (keywords: contraindicated, avoid, not recommended). Combining Clopidogrel (P2Y12 antiplatelet) and Rifampin (Rifamycin antibiotic (strong CYP3A4 inducer)) is classified as a major interaction.
What to Do
The label advises avoiding this combination or using it only under close medical supervision. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before combining them.
How This Interaction Works
Interactions like this one can happen when two medicines have overlapping effects, or when one changes how the other is absorbed, broken down, or cleared from the body. Clopidogrel is a p2y12 antiplatelet and Rifampin is a rifamycin antibiotic (strong cyp3a4 inducer); together they are documented as a major interaction. How much this matters depends on your dose, your other medications, and your overall health.
If You Take Both Medications
If you have been prescribed both Clopidogrel and Rifampin, do not start, stop, or change either medication on your own — some medicines are unsafe to stop suddenly. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist that you take both so they can decide whether the combination is right for you, adjust the dose, monitor you more closely, or suggest an alternative.
From the FDA Label
Telaprevir Decrease AUC by 92% Systemic Hormonal Contraceptives Prevention or Management: Advise patients to change to non-hormonal methods of birth control during rifampin therapy Estrogens Decrease exposure Progestins Anticonvulsants Phenytoin Administered with rifampin 450 mg daily Decrease exposure Antiarrhythmics Disopyramide Decrease exposure Mexiletine Decrease exposure Quinidine Decrease exposure Propafenone Decrease AUC by 50%–67% Tocainide Decrease exposure Antiestrogens Tamoxifen D…
Source: FDA structured product labeling (set_id 036ab68e-5085-4edc-bd83-784b43d64eab).
Check these against your full medication list in our free Interaction Checker
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take Clopidogrel and Rifampin together?
Clopidogrel and Rifampin have a documented major interaction. The label advises avoiding this combination or using it only under close medical supervision. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Clopidogrel and Rifampin interaction?
It is classified as a major interaction, based on the FDA label's drug interactions section (keywords: contraindicated, avoid, not recommended). A major interaction can cause serious harm and often calls for a change in therapy or close monitoring.
What should I do if I'm taking both Clopidogrel and Rifampin?
If you have been prescribed both Clopidogrel and Rifampin, do not start, stop, or change either medication on your own — some medicines are unsafe to stop suddenly. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist that you take both so they can decide whether the combination is right for you, adjust the dose, monitor you more closely, or suggest an alternative.
This information is educational — not medical advice.
This page is provided for general educational purposes and summarizes publicly available data from sources such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is not a substitute for the judgment of a licensed clinician and should not be used to start, stop, or change any medication. It may be incomplete or out of date, and individual circumstances vary. Always talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific medications and health conditions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
Other Clopidogrel Interactions
- Clopidogrel + Esomeprazole(major)
- Clopidogrel + Omeprazole(major)
- Clopidogrel + Lansoprazole(moderate)
- Clopidogrel + Morphine(moderate)
- Clopidogrel + Pantoprazole(moderate)
- Clopidogrel + Rivaroxaban(moderate)
- Clopidogrel + Apixaban(minor)
- Clopidogrel + Bupropion(minor)
- Clopidogrel + Paroxetine(minor)
- Clopidogrel + Trazodone(minor)
- Clopidogrel + Warfarin(minor)
Other Rifampin Interactions
- Rifampin + Apixaban(major)
- Rifampin + Dabigatran(major)
- Rifampin + Doxycycline(major)
- Rifampin + Edoxaban(major)
- Rifampin + Fluconazole(major)
- Rifampin + Itraconazole(major)
- Rifampin + Ketoconazole(major)
- Rifampin + Lansoprazole(major)
- Rifampin + Phenytoin(major)
- Rifampin + Rivaroxaban(major)
- Rifampin + Ticagrelor(major)
- Rifampin + Warfarin(major)
- Rifampin + Atorvastatin(moderate)
- Rifampin + Carvedilol(moderate)
- Rifampin + Clarithromycin(moderate)
- Rifampin + Cyclosporine(moderate)
- Rifampin + Eszopiclone(moderate)
- Rifampin + Gemfibrozil(moderate)
- Rifampin + Glimepiride(moderate)
- Rifampin + Glipizide(moderate)
- Rifampin + Hydrocodone Acetaminophen(moderate)
- Rifampin + Methylprednisolone(moderate)
- Rifampin + Mirtazapine(moderate)
- Rifampin + Oxycodone(moderate)
- Rifampin + Pioglitazone(moderate)
- Rifampin + Tacrolimus(moderate)
- Rifampin + Tramadol(moderate)
- Rifampin + Zolpidem(moderate)
- Rifampin + Aripiprazole(minor)
- Rifampin + Buprenorphine Naloxone(minor)
- Rifampin + Canagliflozin(minor)
- Rifampin + Carbamazepine(minor)
- Rifampin + Carbidopa Levodopa(minor)
- Rifampin + Celecoxib(minor)
- Rifampin + Codeine(minor)
- Rifampin + Dapagliflozin(minor)
- Rifampin + Dexamethasone(minor)
- Rifampin + Diazepam(minor)
- Rifampin + Digoxin(minor)
- Rifampin + Diltiazem(minor)
- Rifampin + Enalapril(minor)
- Rifampin + Glyburide(minor)
- Rifampin + Hydroxychloroquine(minor)
- Rifampin + Lamotrigine(minor)
- Rifampin + Levothyroxine(minor)
- Rifampin + Liothyronine(minor)
- Rifampin + Losartan(minor)
- Rifampin + Metoprolol(minor)
- Rifampin + Morphine(minor)
- Rifampin + Nifedipine(minor)
- Rifampin + Nortriptyline(minor)
- Rifampin + Olanzapine(minor)
- Rifampin + Ondansetron(minor)
- Rifampin + Prednisolone(minor)
- Rifampin + Propranolol(minor)
- Rifampin + Quetiapine(minor)
- Rifampin + Simvastatin(minor)
- Rifampin + Tadalafil(minor)
- Rifampin + Trazodone(minor)
- Rifampin + Valproic Acid(minor)
- Rifampin + Verapamil(minor)