RIFAXIMIN

(rif AX i min) Brand: Xifaxan

What is the most significant information I must know about rifaximin?

• Rifaximin works differently from another antibiotics because it passes through your stomach and into your intestines without being absorbed into your blood stream. Because rifaximin affects only the intestinal tract, it will not treat infections of another parts of the body.

• You must not use take this medicine if you are allergic to rifaximin or medications such as rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate), or rifapentine (Priftin).

• Till you take rifaximin, speak your doctor if you have severe liver malady, diarrhea with fever, or diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it.

• Take this medicine for the full predesigned length of time. Your symptoms may improve till the infection is completely cleared. Rifaximin will not treat a viral infection such as the general cool or flu, or any form of diarrhea that is caused by a virus.

• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 24 hours, or if they get worse while taking rifaximin. Rifaximin does not treat all bacterial forms of traveler's diarrhea.

What is rifaximin?

• Rifaximin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infection only in the intestines.

• Rifaximin works differently from another 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 another parts of the body.

• Rifaximin is used to treat travelers' diarrhea caused by 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 bacteria.

• Rifaximin is also used to lower the risk of worsened brain function, or hepatic encephalopathy (he-PAT-ik en-SEF-a-LOP-ath-ee), in adults with liver failure. Brain function can be affected when the liver stops working and can't remove toxic substances from the body.

• Rifaximin may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking rifaximin?

• You must not use take this medicine if you are allergic to rifaximin or medications such as rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate), or rifapentine (Priftin).

• If you have any of these another conditions, you may need a rifaximin doze adjustment or particular tests:

· severe liver disease;

· diarrhea with a fever; or

· watery or bloody diarrhea.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether rifaximin will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• It is not known whether rifaximin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take rifaximin?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Rifaximin can be taken with or without food.

• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 24 hours, or if they get worse while taking rifaximin. Rifaximin does not treat all bacterial forms of traveler's diarrhea.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking rifaximin?

• Antibiotic medicines can reason diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking rifaximin and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medication unless your doctor tells you to.

What are the possible side effects of rifaximin?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop using rifaximin and call your doctor at once if you have a fever or diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

• Smaller serious side effects are more likely, and may include:

· bloating, gas, stomach pain;

· feeling like you need to empty your bowel urgently;

· feeling like your bowel is not completely empty;

· nausea, vomiting, constipation;

· headache, dizziness;

· weary feeling; or

· swelling in your hands, foots, or torso.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect rifaximin?

• There may be another drugs that can interact with rifaximin. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about rifaximin.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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