Rifaximin

Other Anti-infective Preps · Analogue of rifampin

Indications

Drug-resistant bacterial infection caused by rifaximin sensitive strains: Diarrhoea in patients (above 12 years age) caused by non-invasive strains of escherichia coli. For reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in patients above 18 years of age.

Dosage

Diarrhoea: Adults: One 200 mg tablet three times a day for 3 days. Hepatic Encephalopathy: Adults: One 550 mg tablet two times a day, with or without food. Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D): Adults: 550 mg three times a day for 14 days, may be given up to 2 times with the same dosing regimen if symptoms recur. Children: Not recommended.

Adverse Effects

Bloating, gas, stomach pain; feeling like you need to empty your bowel urgently; nausea, vomiting, depression, dizziness, headache, dyspnoea, ascites, rash, muscle spasm, arthralgia, peripheral oedema, reddish discolouration of urine. Reports of Clostridium difficile infection.

Risk Factor (Pregnancy/Lactation)

Pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy. Lactation: Caution advised or effect undetermined. Contraindications: Should not be used in patients with diarrhoea complicated by fever or blood in the stool or diarrhoea due to pathogens other than Escherichia coli. Precautions: Allergic to rifamycin. If patients develop difficulty in breathing, swelling of face, lip, tongue, or throat discontinue. Renal or severe hepatic impairment. Long term treatment (>6 months).

Interactions

Anticoagulants, other rifamycins, combined oral contraceptives, CYP3A4 inhibitors or substrates, P-gp inhibitors.

Advice to Patient

Take with or without meals. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose. Discontinue medication and inform prescriber if diarrhoea remains for 2 or more days or if there is hives, difficulty in breathing, swelling on face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Oral: Traveler’s diarrhoea: Low. Hepatic encephalopathy: Increased absorption in patients with Child-Pugh class C compared with patients with Child-Pugh class A. Metabolism: Extensively hepatic, mainly by CYP3A. Half-life elimination: Healthy subjects: 5.6 hrs. IBS-D patients: 6 hrs. Time to peak: Healthy subjects and IBS-D patients: Approx. 1 hr. Excretion: Faeces (96.6%). Urine (0.32%).

Brands with this active ingredient

• Axibol
• Cufaxim
• Ecofix
• Fassxamin
• Faxim
• Faximed
• Faxir
• Fixagut
• Foxamine
• Helifax
• Hitra
• Nimixa
• Nixaf
• Nyxia
• Orifax

Compiled by Healify Pharmacy from published drug references. How we compile it →

Always consult a pharmacist or doctor.