Xifaxan (rifaximin) is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infection only in the intestines.
Rifaximin
works differently from other antibiotics because it passes through your stomach
and into your intestines without being absorbed into your blood stream. Because
rifaximin treats only the intestinal tract, it will not treat infections of
other parts of the body.
Xifaxan is used to treat travelers’ diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) in adults and children who are at least 12 years old. Most people get this infection by eating food or drinking fluids that have been contaminated with the E. coli bacteria.
Xifaxan is
also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome in adults whose main symptom is
diarrhea.
Xifaxan is also used to lower the risk of worsened brain function in adults with liver failure. Brain function can be affected when the liver stops working and cannot remove toxic substances from the body.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take Xifaxan if you are
allergic to rifaximin, rifabutin, rifampin, or rifapentine.
To make sure Xifaxan is safe for you, tell
your doctor if you have:
- liver disease;
- diarrhea with a fever; or
- watery or bloody diarrhea.
It is not known whether Xifaxan will harm
an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant.
It is not known whether rifaximin passes
into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if
you are breast-feeding.
Xifaxan should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.
Side effects
Stop using Xifaxan and call your doctor at
once if you have:
- severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
- fever; or
- rapid weight gain, especially in your face and midsection.
Common Xifaxan side effects may include:
- swelling in your hands, feet, or midsection;
- nausea;
- headache, dizziness;
- tired feeling; or
- abnormal liver function tests.
Keywords: xifaxan; rifaximin.
