The drug xifaxan is used for treating of gastrointestinal conditions and works by slowing down the growth of certain bacteria in your gut.
Xifaxan is approved by the FDA for treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "IBS-D" and Traveler's Diarrhea.
Xifaxan treats traveler's diarrhea that is caused by certain strains of E. coli in adults and children that are aged 12 years and older.
Xifaxan is also used to treat IBS-D or Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea in adults and provides relief from the symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
And Xifaxan also treats and reduces the risk of repeated episodes of overt HE or Hepatic Encephalopathy which can be noticeable and severe in adults with liver damage.
However Xifaxan is not recommended to use when you have traveler's diarrhea accompanied by fever or bloody stool or diarrhea that is caused by bacteria other than E. coli.
Xifaxan is also sometimes prescribed off label for other conditions such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth or SIBO, in which excess bacteria grow in your small intestine.
For treating traveler's diarrhea, the typical dosage of Xifaxan is 200 mg taken 3 times a day for 3 days.
For IBS-D, the usual and typical dosage is 550 mg taken 3 times a day for 14 days, with the possibility of retreatment if symptoms recur.
And for hepatic encephalopathy, the dosage is 550 mg taken 2 times daily and can even be taken long term and it's often taken long term for hepatic encephalopathy.
You can take xifaxan with food or without food.