What Helps Improve IBS Symptoms?

Antibiotic May Improve IBS Symptoms

Recent evidence suggest that taking the antibiotic rifaximin (Xifaxan®) for two weeks may help improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in some patients. The benefits lasted up to 10 weeks after the medication was discontinued.

IBS typically causes lower abdominal pain, bloating and constipation and/or diarrhea. IBS is considered a functional bowel disorder because the bowel appears normal but does not function normally.

Currently, rifaximin is only FDA-approved to treat traveler's diarrhea caused by E. coli infections and hepatic encephalopathy in adults with liver failure.

The researchers tested the effects of rifaximin in two parallel studies called TARGET 1 and TARGET 2. The 600 study participants had the non-constipation form of IBS, and their symptoms included mild-to-moderate diarrhea and bloating. They were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 550 milligrams of rifaximin three times daily for two weeks.

The participants reported their symptoms during the treatment period and up to 10 weeks after they stopped taking the antibiotic.

The researchers found that 40.7 of the patients who took rifaximin experienced symptom relief during the first four weeks after treatment compared to 31.7 percent of the placebo group.

While the results are promising, additional research is needed to confirm these findings. The research was funded by Salix Pharmaceuticals Inc., the manufacturer of rifaximin. Additionally, the lead author of the study, Mark Pimentel, MD, is a consultant for Salix and is on its scientific advisory board.

For more information about IBS, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

References

1.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/
2.Pimentel M, Lembo A, Chey WD, et al. Rifaximin therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome without constipation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jan 6;364(1):22-32. View Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21208106?dopt=Abstract

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