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Rifaximin för resenärsdiarré

Xifaxanta

Granskad av Sid DajaniSenast uppdaterad av Michael Stewart, MRPharmSSenast uppdaterad 19 Sept 2023

Uppfyller patientens redaktionella riktlinjer

Take one 200 mg tablet every eight hours, for three days (Xifaxanta® brand).

Drink plenty of water or rehydration drinks, and eat light meals as soon as you feel able to.

The most common side-effects of rifaximin are feeling sick (nausea), feeling dizzy and headache.

Överblick

  • Rifaximin is an antibiotic used to treat traveller's diarrhoea.

  • It works within your gut and is not absorbed into the body.

  • Take one tablet every eight hours for three days, remembering to finish the course.

  • Do not take rifaximin if you have a fever or blood in your diarrhoea.

  • Common side-effects include dizziness, headache, and tummy discomfort.

  • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Denna sammanfattning har automatiskt genererats från artikelns innehåll för att hjälpa läsarna att snabbt förstå huvudpunkterna.

About rifaximin

Typ av medicin

A rifamycin antibiotic

Används för

Resediarré

Även kallad

Xifaxanta®

Tillgänglig som

Tabletter

Resediarré is diarrhoea that develops during, or shortly after, you have travelled abroad. Diarrhoea is defined as 'loose or watery stools, usually at least three times in 24 hours'. Traveller's diarrhoea is commonly caused by eating food or drinking water containing germs (bacteria). In most cases, the symptoms are mild, and the body's immune system clears them within a few days.

Rifaximin is an antibiotic which works within the gastrointestinal system. It is not absorbed into the body (this means that it is not suitable to treat other types of infection). You may be advised by your doctor to take a supply with you when you travel, 'just in case' you develop diarrhoea. You will be prescribed a brand called Xifaxanta®. The tablets are not suitable if you also have a high temperature (fever) or if there is blood in the diarrhoea - you should get medical assistance as soon as possible in these cases. Rifaximin should not be given to children.

(A brand of rifaximin tablets called Targaxan® is used to help prevent episodes of a problem called hepatic encephalitis in people with liver disease. If you are taking it for this reason, see the separate leaflet called Rifaximin för leverproblem.)

Before taking rifaximin

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking rifaximin it is important that your doctor knows:

  • Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

  • If you have any problems with your kidneys.

  • Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

  • Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

How to take rifaximin tablets

  • Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about rifaximin and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

  • Take rifaximin exactly as your doctor tells you to. Take one 200 mg tablet every eight hours for three days (Xifaxanta® brand). It is important that you space the doses out evenly, and that you remember to finish the whole course of tablets. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water; they can be taken with or without food.

  • If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Try to take the correct number of doses each day, spaced out evenly. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed one.

Få ut det mesta av din behandling

  • It is important for you to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. You can drink 'safe' water (for example, bottled, or boiled and treated water) or rehydration drinks (which contain a balance of salts and sugars and can be bought from a pharmacy before you travel). Remember to make up rehydration drinks using safe water.

  • Eat as soon as you feel able to. Plain foods such as bread and rice are good foods to eat. Try to avoid fatty, spicy or heavy food.

  • Taking rifaximin could cause a slight reddish colour in your urine. This is normal and harmless.

Can rifaximin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with rifaximin when taken for traveller's diarrhoea. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Common rifaximin side-effects (these affect fewer than 1 in 10 people)


Vad kan jag göra om jag upplever detta?

Känner dig yr

Do not drive and do not use tools or machines while you feel dizzy

Huvudvärk

Drink plenty of water and ask a pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller

Feeling sick (nausea), gastrointestinal upset, tummy (abdominal) discomfort

Stick to simple foods and remember to drink plenty of safe water

High temperature (fever)

If this continues, see or speak with a doctor for advice

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with a doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store rifaximin

  • Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

  • Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Ta aldrig mer än den föreskrivna dosen. Om du misstänker att du eller någon annan kan ha tagit en överdos av denna medicin, gå till akutmottagningen på ditt lokala sjukhus. Ta med behållaren, även om den är tom.

Denna medicin är för dig. Ge den aldrig till andra människor även om deras tillstånd verkar vara detsamma som ditt.

Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

If you buy any medicines, always check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with your other medicines.

Behåll inte föråldrade eller oönskade mediciner. Ta dem till ditt lokala apotek som kommer att ta hand om dem åt dig.

Om du har några frågor om denna medicin, fråga din apotekare.

Rapportera biverkningar av ett läkemedel eller vaccin

Om du upplever biverkningar kan du rapportera dem online via Yellow Card webbplats.

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Vanliga frågor

What is the primary difference between rifaximin and other antibiotics?

Rifaximin is unique because it works specifically within your gastrointestinal system and is not absorbed into the rest of your body. This means it's effective for conditions like traveller's diarrhoea that affect the gut, but it won't treat infections in other parts of your body.

Are there specific circumstances when rifaximin should not be used for traveller's diarrhoea?

Yes, rifaximin is not suitable if you have a high temperature (fever) or if there is blood in your diarrhoea. In these situations, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. It should also not be given to children.

What are some recommended foods to eat when recovering from traveller's diarrhoea?

Once you feel well enough, it's advised to eat plain foods such as bread and rice. You should try to avoid fatty, spicy, or heavy foods during this time.

What should I do if I forget to take a dose of rifaximin?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. The goal is to take the correct number of doses each day, spaced out evenly. Do not take two doses at once to compensate for a forgotten one.

Can rifaximin affect the colour of my urine?

Yes, taking rifaximin could cause a slight reddish colour in your urine. This is considered normal and harmless.

Dessa frågor och svar har genererats från informationen i denna artikel.

Vidare läsning och referenser

Om författarenVisa fullständig biografi

Författarbild

Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

Ansvarig för granskning av medicinbroschyrer – Konsult, Apotekare

BPharm (Hons), MRPharmS

Michael är en apotekare som arbetar i Midlands och South Yorkshire med mer än 20 års erfarenhet av att ge råd om läkemedel och medicinska tillstånd. Han har en stark bakgrund inom vårdutbildning och har producerat och levererat utbildningskurser för apoteksteam och personal inom vårdboenden, inklusive sjuksköterskor. Han har också bidragit till apoteksrådgivande styrelser för hantering av mindre allvarliga tillstånd i samhället.

Om recensenten

Författarbild

Sid Dajani

Sultan Dajani tog examen vid London School of Pharmacy 1994 och blev den yngsta valda medlemmen i Royal Pharmaceutical Society-rådet sedan dess grundande 1842.

Artikelhistorik

Informationen på denna sida är skriven och granskad av kvalificerade kliniker.

Artikeln finns också på Engelska, Tyska, Spanska, Franska, Italienska, Portugisiska, Hindi, Hebreiska, Arabiska, och Svenska.

  • Next review due: 18 Sept 2026
  • 19 Sept 2023 | Senaste versionen

    Senast uppdaterad av

    Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

    Granskad av

    Sid Dajani
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