X
Pronunciation: rif-AX-i-min
Generic Name: Rifaximin
Brand Name: Xifaxan
Xifaxan is used for:
Decreasing the risk that hepatic encephalopathy (a serious liver problem) will occur again in patients who have already had it. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Xifaxan is an antibiotic. Exactly how it works to treat hepatic encephalopathy is not known. It is thought to have an effect on the bacteria in the stomach.
Do NOT use Xifaxan if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Xifaxan or to a rifamycin antibiotic (eg, rifampin)
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Xifaxan:
Some medical conditions may interact with Xifaxan. Tell your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have severe diarrhea caused by antibiotics (pseudomembranous colitis) or food poisoning
if you have diarrhea with a fever or blood in the stool
if you have moderate to severe liver damage
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Xifaxan. However, no specific interactions with Xifaxan are known at this time.
Ask your health care provider if Xifaxan may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Xifaxan:
Use Xifaxan as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Take Xifaxan by mouth with or without food.
Xifaxan works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
Continue to take Xifaxan even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
If you miss a dose of Xifaxan, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Xifaxan.
Important safety information:
Xifaxan may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Xifaxan with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
Mild diarrhea is common with antibiotic use. However, a more serious form of diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
Long-term or repeated use of Xifaxan may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
Be sure to use Xifaxan for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make infection harder to treat in the future.
Use Xifaxan with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Xifaxan while you are pregnant. It is not known if Xifaxan is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Xifaxan.
Possible side effects of Xifaxan:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Dizziness; gas; headache; nausea; tiredness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty swallowing or breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; flushing; unusual hoarseness); bloody stools; fever; severe diarrhea; severe or persistent tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; stomach pain or cramping; swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or stomach.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Xifaxan side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Xifaxan:
Store Xifaxan at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Xifaxan out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
If you have any questions about Xifaxan, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Xifaxan is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Xifaxan. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: February 1, 2012
Database Edition 12.1.1.002
Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
More Xifaxan resources
Xifaxan Side Effects (in more detail)Xifaxan Use in Pregnancy & BreastfeedingDrug ImagesXifaxan Support Group11 Reviews for Xifaxan - Add your own review/rating
Compare Xifaxan with other medications
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Xifaxan
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