Things Need To Know About Rifaximin

Indication: Rifaximin specifically is a rifamycin antibacterial indicated for the: 

• Treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with travelers’ diarrhea (TD) caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli.
•  Reduction in the risk of HE (Hepatic Encephalopathy) recurrence in adults. 
• Treatment of adult patients with the IBS-D (Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea). 

Side Effects: Patients with rifaximin dosage should check with your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible if any of the following common side effects occur:

• Black, tarry stools
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Muscle spasm
• Rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble sleeping

Some less common rifaximin side effects are as follows:

• Chest pain
• Blood in the urine
• Bloody nose
• Fainting
• Increased heart rate
• Sensation of spinning
• Sunken eyes
• Mouth ulcers
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

Some other adverse reactions not listed may also occur in some patients. In case you have any other reactions, check with your doctor.

What dosage form and strength Rifaximin comes? 
Rifaximin tablets are available in the following form and strengths: 

• rifaximin 200 mg tablets
• rifaximin 550 mg tablets
• Rifaximin 400 mg

How to consume Rifaximin? 
Rifaximin comes in the form of tablets and must be consumed 3 times a day for 2 weeks. The tablets should be consumed either with or without food. 

Mechanism of Action: Rifaximin specifically is a non-aminoglycoside semi-synthetic antibacterial derived from the rifamycin SV. This medication works by binding to the beta-subunit of bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase resulting in the inhibition of the bacterial RNA synthesis.

Warning & Precautions:

• Stop rifaximin uses in case diarrhea gets worse or persists for more than 24-48 hours and alternative antibiotic therapy needs to be considered.
• Use of rifaximin should be avoided in patients with a hypersensitivity to it, any of the rifamycin antimicrobial agents, or any of the components of this drug.
• Caution is required when administering rifaximin to patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). 
• Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should avoid taking this medication. 

Storage: Rifaximin 400 mg or any other strength of Rifaximin need to be stored at temperature 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C-30°C (59°F-86°F).

NOTE: The piece of information provided in this article is just for informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

FAQ's
What is rifaximin used for?
As an antibiotic medicine, Rifaximin is recommended for the treatment of:
●    travelers' diarrhea
●    irritable bowel syndrome
●    hepatic encephalopathy

What are the side effects of rifaximin? 
The oral rifaximin does not get into the bloodstream of patients, so its adverse reactions are minimal, which may include gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach upset.

What type of antibiotic is rifaximin?
Rifaximin mainly is a broad-spectrum nonabsorbed rifamycin antibiotic. This drug has shown an excellent safety profile, minimal drug interactions, and less effect on the intestinal microbiome. 

How long does rifagut can be taken? 
The recommended daily dose of rifagut is one tablet of 550 mg consumed orally 3 times daily for 2 weeks. Patients suffering with recurrence of symptoms may be retreated up to a couple of times with identical dosage regimen. 

How does rifaximin work in hepatic encephalopathy? 
This drug is a poorly absorbed antibiotic that is believed to reduce the ammonia production by removing ammonia-producing colonic bacteria. On behalf of several small studies, rifaximin is effective in order to treat acute hepatic encephalopathy and is quite well tolerated.

What is the most serious sign of severe hepatic encephalopathy?
The most serious symptoms of severe hepatic encephalopathy are: anxiety, confusion, and drowsiness.

What are the stages of hepatic encephalopathy?
HE is divided into 5 stages on behalf of severity of the symptoms, these stages are:

Stage 0: At stage 0, symptoms are absolutely minimal.

Stage 1: Symptoms are mild. They may include a shortened attention span, hypersomnia or insomnia.

Stage 2: Symptoms are moderate and you may experience disoriented or lethargic.

Stage 3: At this stage, symptoms are quite severe. You can not even do your basic tasks. Apart from this, you’ll experience specific changement with your personality.

Stage 4: The stage 4 is specifically characterized by the coma.

Is hepatic encephalopathy curable?
By appropriate treatment, the HE (hepatic encephalopathy) is curable. In fact, complete recovery is possible, in case, encephalopathy was triggered by a reversible cause. 

Does rifaximin kill good bacteria?
Rifaximin kills several bacteria but does not seem to affect several bacteria native to the colon’s microbiome.

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