Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Recently the American College of Gastroenterology Task Force on IBS produced a report titled An Evidence-Based Systematic Review on the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In this report they talk about the use of non-absorbable antibiotics such as rifaximin for the treatment of IBS (see page 55). Three clinical trials involving 545 IBS patients were examined and each trial found a significant improvement in global IBS symptoms, bloating symptoms, or both in Rifaximi treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients. Based on the results, Rifaximin is most likely to be efficacious in IBS-D patients or IBS patients with a predominant symptom of bloating.

They conclude a short-term course of a non-absorbable antibiotic is more effective than placebo for global improvement of IBS and for bloating. However, they say that given the chronic and recurrent nature of IBS symptoms and the theoretical risks related to long-term treatment with any antibiotic, a recommendation regarding continuous or intermittent use of antibiotocs in IBS must await further, long-term studies.

If you decide to give it a try please keep us posted on how it works for you.

Good luck

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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS

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