Zargar S A, Thapa B R, Sahni A, Mehta S
Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Postgrad Med J. 1990 Apr;66(774):310-1. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.66.774.310.
Gastrointestinal disturbances like anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea are known adverse effects of rifampicin. We report an upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to haemorrhagic gastric erosions after ingestion of rifampicin for pulmonary tuberculosis. The cause and effect relationship between development of haemorrhagic gastric erosions and rifampicin administration was confirmed by rechallenge with rifampicin. To our knowledge no such adverse effect of rifampicin has been reported previously.