Xifaxin – pro

Test biopsy c on microscope for cancer cells

The drug Xifaxin is approved for traveler’s diarrhea but not for bacterial overgrowth. Xifaxin ( rifaximin) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat traveler’s diarrhea caused by E. coli. It is especially effective for prophylaxis. It is not effective against Campylobacter jejuni, and there is no evidence of efficacy against Shigella or Salmonella species.

There is evidence that it may be efficacious in relieving chronic functional symptoms of bloating and flatulence that are common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Rifaximin is licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat traveler’s diarrhea caused by E. coli. Clinical trials have shown that rifaximin is highly effective at preventing and treating traveler’s diarrhea among travelers to Mexico, with few side effects and low risk of developing antibiotic resistance. It is not effective against Campylobacter jejuni, and there is no evidence of efficacy against Shigella or Salmonella species.

It may be efficacious in relieving chronic functional symptoms of bloating and flatulence that are common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There was recently a pilot-study done on the efficacy of rifaximin as a means of treatment for rosacea, according to the study, induced by the co-presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

In the United States, rifaximin has orphan drug status for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.

There was recently a pilot-study done on the efficacy of rifaximin as a means of treatment for rosacea, according to the study, induced by the co-presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Martinez-Sandoval F, Ericsson CD, Jiang ZD, Okhuysen PC, Romero JH, Hernandez N, Forbes WP, Shaw A, Bortey E, DuPont HL. (2010 Mar-Apr). “Prevention of travelers’ diarrhea with rifaximin in US travelers to Mexico.”. J Travel Med. 17 (2): 111-7.

Lawrence KR, Klee JA (2008). “Rifaximin for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy”. Pharmacotherapy 28 (8): 101932.

Peralta S, Cottone C, Doveri T, Almasio PL, Craxi A. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome-related symptoms: experience with Rifaximin. World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7 2009;15(21):2628-31.

Pimentel M. Review of rifaximin as treatment for SIBO and IBS. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. Mar 2009;18(3):349-58.

Scarpellini E, Gabrielli M, Lauritano CE, Lupascu A, Merra G, Cammarota G. High dosage rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Apr 1 2007;25(7):781-6.

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