The Effects of Rifaximin Therapy in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) is a chronic relapsing disorder with unknown etiology characterized by abdominal pain and bowel habit changes without an organic pathology. Pathophysiology is not fully understood, bacterial overgrowth is one of the reasons. Because of that, use of drugs effective on the gut flora has been raised; Rifaximin is one of them. This study investigated the effectiveness of Rifaximin on IBS.

This randomized, double-blinded, controlled study began with 500 patients(144 of them removed because of incompliance). Patients those without organic bowel pathology and whom meet the Rome-III criteria, aged between 19-50 yo were enrolled in the study. Patients with known Rifaximin allergy, lactose intolerance, and those having treated for IBS whit in last 1 month as well as those with alarm symptoms (melena, fever, weight loss, anemia, rectal bleeding) were excluded. After routine biochemistry, blood count, and stool tests, Rifaximin tablet was given to a group as 1200 mg. daily in 3 divided doses, placebo tablet was given to another group in same doses for 10 days. Improvement in symptoms were scored and recorded on 10.day, 3. and 6.week. In addition to descriptive statistical methods(mean±SD), Student's-T and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for comparison of quantitative data, chi-square and McNemar tests were used for comparison of qualitative data. Significance was accepted if p <0.05.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients between the ages of 18 and 50 years without alarm symptoms, who were examined at the Gastroenterology Clinic, without endoscopic assessment, due to complaints of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and pre-diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome according to the Rome III criteria, will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• are under the age of 18 years,
• are allergic to Rifaximin,
• are pregnant and lactating,
• have documented diseases of the gastrointestinal system (such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric cancer, small intestine and colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease [Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis], gastroparesis, chronic intestinal ischemia, etc.),
• have (describe) documented diseases of the pancreas, biliary tract, and liver (such as pancreatitis, biliary colic pain associated with gallstones, acute cholecystitis, choledochal stone, hepatitis, hepatobiliary cancers, etc.),
• have previously undergone major abdominal surgery,
• have a systemic disease (such as collagen tissue disorders, kidney dysfunction, systemic infection, etc.),
• have an identified psychiatric disorder,

and/or

• consume alcohol excessively