Rifax 200 mg Tablet

Non-absorbed gut antibiotic for:

• Prevention of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis (often with lactulose)
• Travellers' diarrhoea (non-invasive E. coli)
• Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

Hepatic encephalopathy: 550 mg twice daily (or 400 mg three times daily), long-term.

Travellers' diarrhoea: 200 mg three times daily for 3 days.

IBS-D: 550 mg three times daily for 14 days (may repeat up to twice if symptoms return).

SIBO: 400–550 mg two to three times daily for 7–14 days (on advice).

• With or without food. Not for children under 12 (except specialist use).

• Allergy to rifaximin or rifamycins
• Diarrhoea with fever or blood in the stool (invasive infection) — not effective
• Intestinal obstruction

Common: nausea, bloating, wind, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, swelling of legs (in cirrhosis).

Less common: muscle cramps, tiredness, reddish urine.

Rare: C. difficile colitis, allergic reactions, severe skin reactions.

• Stop and seek help if diarrhoea worsens or contains blood, or with high fever.
• Severe liver impairment: caution.
• May reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (use additional protection).

Avoid in pregnancy unless clearly needed. Use with caution while breastfeeding.

• Ciclosporin (raises rifaximin absorption)
• Warfarin (INR changes reported — monitor)
• Oral contraceptives (possible reduced effect)

Minimal absorption; supportive care.

Store below 30°C.