Xifaxan vs. Viberzi

Xifaxan (rifaximin) and Viberzi (eluxadoline) are used to treat diarrhea from different causes and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

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.

Xifaxan and Viberzi belong to different drug classes. Xifaxan is an antibiotic and Viberzi is a mu-opioid receptor agonist.

Side effects of Xifaxan and Viberzi that are similar include nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, gas, stomach/abdominal pain, and dizziness.

Side effects of Xifaxan that are different from Viberzi include feeling like you need to urgently empty your bowel, feeling your bowel is not completely empty, headache, tired feeling, and swelling in your hands, feet, or torso.

Side effects of Viberzi that are different from Xifaxan include upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, runny or stuffy nose, rash, and fatigue.

Both Xifaxan and Viberzi may interact with cyclosporine, azole antifungals, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, and heart or blood pressure medicines.

Xifaxan may also interact with warfarin.

Viberzi may also interact with cholesterol-lowering drugs, eltrombopag, antidepressants, alosetron, anticholinergics, opioids, alfentanil, migraine headache medicines, pimozide, quinidine, sirolimus, and tacrolimus.

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 Viberzi include:

• constipation,
• nausea,
• abdominal pain,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• vomiting,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• bloating,
• bronchitis,
• dizziness,
• gas,
• rash, and
• fatigue.

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.

Viberzi (eluxadoline) is a mu-opioid receptor agonist used in adults to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).

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

Viberzi may interact with other irritable bowel medications, narcotic pain medicines, or heart rhythm medications.

Viberzi may also interact with cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, antiretrovirals, rifampin, eltrombopag, ciprofloxacin, fluconazole, clarithromycin, paroxetine, bupropion, anticholinergics, opioids, rosuvastatin, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, pimozide, sirolimus, or tacrolimus.

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 viberzi 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.