Xifaxan vs. Rifampin

• Are Xifaxan and Rifampin the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Xifaxan?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Rifampin?
• What Is Xifaxan?
• What Is Rifampin?
• What drugs interact with Xifaxan?
• What drugs interact with Rifampin?
• How Should Xifaxan Be Taken?
• How Should Rifampin Be Taken?

Xifaxan (rifaximin) and rifampin are antibiotics used to treat diarrhea.

Xifaxan is used to treat patients 12 years of age and older with travelers' diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), and to lower the risk of worsened brain function, or hepatic encephalopathy, in adults with liver failure.

Rifampin is also used to treat or prevent tuberculosis (TB). Rifampin may also be used to eliminate a type of bacteria from your nose and throat that may cause meningitis or other infections.

A brand name for rifampin is Rifadin.

Side effects of Xifaxan and rifampin that are similar include nausea, vomiting, gas, headache, dizziness, and tired feeling.

Side effects of Xifaxan that are different from rifampin include constipation, bloating, stomach pain, feeling like you need to urgently empty your bowel, feeling your bowel is not completely empty, and swelling in your hands, feet, or torso.

Side effects of rifampin that are different from Xifaxan include heartburn, upset stomach, loss of appetite, diarrhea, stomach cramps, drowsiness, muscle weakness, pain in your arms or legs, vision problems, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), confusion, changes in behavior, and trouble concentrating.

Both Xifaxan and rifampin may interact with antiviral medicines, antibiotics, antifungal medicines, blood thinners, medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection, and heart or blood pressure medicines.

Rifampin may also interact with alcohol, sulfasalazine, theophylline, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, thyroid medicines, drugs that lower cholesterol, drugs to treat depression or mental illness, medicines to treat or prevent malaria, narcotics, oral diabetes medications, sedatives, seizure medicines, and steroids.

Side effects of Xifaxan include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• bloating,
• gas,
• stomach pain,
• feeling like you need to urgently empty your bowel,
• feeling your bowel is not completely empty,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• tired feeling, or
• swelling in your hands, feet, or torso.

Tell your doctor if you develop serious side effects of Xifaxan including:

• persistent diarrhea,
• abdominal or stomach pain or cramping, or
• blood or mucus in your stool.

Common side effects of Rifampin include:

• upset stomach,
• heartburn,
• nausea,
• menstrual changes,
• headache,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling, or
• dizziness.

Rifadin may also produce a harmless, red or orange coloration of urine, stools, sweat, saliva, or tears. Soft contact lenses may be permanently stained. Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Rifadin including:

• flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, headache, muscle aches),
• changes in amount of urine,
• persistent nausea or vomiting,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• dark urine,
• yellowing eyes or skin,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, unusual behavior),
• unusual tiredness,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• small red spots on the skin, or
• joint pain and swelling.

Xifaxan (rifaximin) is an antibiotic indicated for the treatment of patients 12 years of age and older with travelers' diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), and to lower the risk of worsened brain function, or hepatic encephalopathy, in adults with liver failure.

Rifampin is an antibiotic used to treat or prevent tuberculosis (TB). Rifadin may also be used to eliminate a type of bacteria from your nose and throat that may cause meningitis or other infections, even if you do not have an infection.

Xifaxan may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Rifampin may interact with acetaminophen, blood thinners, barbiturates, diazepam or similar medicines, beta-blockers, clofibrate, steroids, birth control pills or estrogen hormone replacement, heart medicines, HIV medicines, ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, methadone, phenytoin, ethotoin, mephenytoin, sulfa drugs, oral diabetes medication, cyclosporine, or theophylline. Rifadin can interact with many drugs. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Xifaxan (rifaximin) tablets for oral administration are film-coated and contain 200 or 550 mg of rifaximin. Usual dosage is 200 mg three times a day for three days for diarrhea and 550mg twice a day for 3 days for hepatic encephalopathy.

To treat tuberculosis, the adult dose of rifampin is 10 mg/kg, in a single daily administration, not to exceed 600 mg/day, oral or IV. The pediatric dose 10-20 mg/kg, not to exceed 600 mg/day, oral or IV.