Xifaxanta (Rifaximin) 200mg Tablets

What is Xifaxanta and what is it used for?

Xifaxanta is an antibiotic tablet used to treat travellers' diarrhoea. The active ingredient is an antibiotic called rifaximin. Travellers' diarrhoea comes as a result of bacterial infection and is common in countries in places such as South and South-East Asia, Africa and South America. The way Xifaxanta works is by interfering with the bacteria’s cell structure and preventing it from reproducing.

Xifaxanta tablets can be taken by adults over the age of 18 years and require a prescription. They are taken over the course of three days. Xifaxanta is manufactured by Norgine and is available in 200mg tablets.

What is travellers' diarrhoea?

Travellers' diarrhoea occurs after consuming contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, usually in a foreign country. It is most often caused by a bacterial infection, though in some cases, it is caused by a virus or parasite. Apart from diarrhoea, symptoms include;

• nausea
• stomach pain
• loss of appetite
• headache

These symptoms may not appear until after you have returned home. Traveller’s diarrhoea affects between 30% and 50% of all people who visit tropical destinations.

There are several precautions you can take while travelling to minimise your risk of contracting travellers' diarrhoea. Avoid drinking tap water, and only eat food that has been properly cooked. Take care of your own hygiene as well.

If you get travellers' diarrhoea, make sure you rest and keep yourself hydrated. If your symptoms are severe or persist for more than a few days, you may consider a treatment such as Xifaxanta. Xifaxanta contains the antibiotic rifamixin

How does Xifaxanta work?

Xifaxanta uses an active ingredient called rifamixin, which is a kind of antibiotic. The treatment is localised to work directly in the gut and is largely not taken up into the bloodstream. Rifaximin inhibits the production of an enzyme in the bacteria known as RNA-polymerase which stops its growth process and lets your immune system kill it off.

Alternatives to Xifaxanta

OTC (over the counter) alternative treatments for Travellers' Diarrhoea:

In some more simple cases, travellers' diarrhoea can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. These medicines include Loperamide (Imodium) and rehydration sachets (Dioralyte). Using these products together will help ease the symptoms, this will help as your body is trying to fight off the infection. You must also ensure you remain hydrated so take on as much fluid as possible during this time, as dehydration is the most dangerous consequence of Travellers' diarrhoea.

Sources

• Xifaxanta, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/r...
• https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.u...

Xifaxanta warnings

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Xifaxanta is unsuitable for you if:

• You are allergic to rifamycin antibiotics (e.g. rifampicin, rifabutin)
• There is blood in your stool
• You have a fever
• You have had more than seven liquid stools in the preceding 24 hours

Xifaxanta with bloody stools

Clinical evidence has shown that Xifaxanta is not effective at treating Traveller’s diarrhoea when it is caused by invasive enteric pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., or Shigella, which typically produces a kind of dysentery-like diarrhoea characterised by blood in the stools and a high frequency.

Xifaxanta and other medicines

If you have taken activated charcoal tablets for your diarrhoea symptoms, wait at least two hours before taking Xifaxanta.

Exercise caution when using Xifaxanta with any P-glycoprotein inhibitors such as ciclosporin.

Xifaxanta - pregnancy & breastfeeding

Xifaxanta should not be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.

Xifaxanta dosage

Adults over the age of 18 years for travellers' diarrhoea:

The standard recommended dose of Xifaxanta is one tablet, three times daily: once every eight hours. For a maximum of 3 days. Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of water. Xifaxanta can be taken either with or without food.

If your symptoms do not improve after 48 hours, you should see a doctor.

Xifaxanta ingredients

The active ingredient contained in Xifaxanta tablets is: Rifaximin 200mg

Xifaxanta tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients to make up the complete product: Sodium starch glyconate type A, glycerol distearate, colloidal anhydrous silica, talc, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, disodium edetate, propylene glycol, red iron oxide E172.

Xifaxanta side effects

Not everyone will experience side effects when they take Xifaxanta, however, if you do they can include:

Common (1 in 10 people or less):

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Flatulence
• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Increased bowel urgency
• Feeling or being sick
• Involuntary and painful or ineffective straining
• Fever

If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist. For a full list of reported side effects please see the Patient Information Leaflet.