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Rifaximin is a medicine used in adults with traveler’s diarrhea. This is a type of medicine called a rifamycin antibiotic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved this prescription. Rifaximin comes as a tablet for oral use with the dosage strengths of 200 mg and 550 mg.
Traveler’sdiarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that causes abdominal cramps and loosestools. When you visit a place where the climate or sanitary practices aredifferent from yours at home, you have an increased risk of developing thecondition. This usually begins abruptly during your trip or shortly after youreturn home. Most cases improve within one to two days without treatment andclear up completely within a week. However, you can have multiple episodes oftraveler’s diarrhea during one trip. The most common signs and symptoms oftraveler’s diarrhea are:
Sometimes,people experience a high fever, moderate to severe dehydration, bloody stools,persistent vomiting, or severe pain in the abdomen. Traveler’s diarrhea maystem from the stress of traveling or a change in diet. But usually, aninfectious agent is to blame. You typically develop traveler’s diarrhea afteringesting food or water that’s contaminated with organisms from feces.
Yourchances of getting traveler’s diarrhea are mostly determined by yourdestination. But, certain groups of people have a greater risk of developingthe condition. These include:
Peoplewith weakened immune systems. A weakened immune systemincreases vulnerability to infections.
Youngadults. The condition is slightly more common in youngadult tourists. Though the reasons why aren’t clear, it’s possible that youngadults lack acquired immunity. They may also be more adventurous than olderpeople in their travels and dietary choices or they may be less vigilant inavoiding contaminated foods.
Peoplewith inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or cirrhosis of the liver. Theseconditions can leave you more prone to infection or increase your risk of amore severe infection.
Peoplewho travel during certain seasons. The risk of traveler’s diarrheavaries by season in certain parts of the world.
Peoplewho take acid blockers or antacids. The acid in the stomach tendsto destroy organisms, so a reduction in stomach acid may leave more opportunityfor bacterial survival.
How doesRifaximin work?
Rifaximinworks by killing the bacteria that are causing the infection. It targets andinactivates the bacterial enzyme called RNA-polymerase. The bacteria useRNA-polymerase to make essential proteins and to copy their genetic informationwhich is called DNA. Without this enzyme, the bacteria cannot reproduce andthey die.
This antibiotic acts locally in the intestine and is not absorbed into the bloodstream in significant amounts.
How touse Rifaximin for traveler’s diarrhea?
Rifaximincanbe taken with or without a meal. They should be swallowed with a glass ofwater. Do not chew or crush the medicine. The usual dose of this is one tabletto be taken every eight hours for three days. You should complete this courseeven if your symptoms improve. The dosage is based on your medical conditionand response to treatment. For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenlyspaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time andin the same way every day. If you missed a dose, call your doctor right awayfor instructions. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed dose.
Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection. Tell your doctor if you are still having diarrhea after 1 to 2 days, if you have bloody diarrhea or if you have a fever along with diarrhea. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
Thepossible side effects of Rifaximin
Common sideeffects:
Tell yourdoctor if you have developed serious side effects such as:
Precautions