Xifaxan User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• JWn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "This medication severely impacted my physical and mental health. I was prescribed for SIBO (though I did not have diarrhea - only persistent, very mild bloating and increased flatulence at the time). Almost immediately after finishing the ten-day course, my GI issues erupted like a volcano. About two weeks after, I had already lost ten pounds, was experiencing pins and needle sensations in my skin, developed what I now recognize as clinical depression (brain fog, inability to concentrate, no appetite, etc.), and about three weeks after, my hair started falling out. Soon after, I started having panic attacks out of nowhere, with no preexisting mental health issues in myself or my immediate family, and SEVERE constipation that sent me to the ER. For a year after, I was lucky to have one bowel movement a week. Read EVERY adverse event/side effect report on this medication. My life has two chapters: before Xifaxan, and after."

• KKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I was prescribed this drug for SIBO! I was bloating and have gas issues to the extreme prior to Xifaxan. The gas is gone, but I now look 10 months pregnant (overdue). I seriously feel I am at week 42 in pregnancy with a 10 lb baby. Severe bloating and extreme water retention when on Xifaxan! Feel awful, although the gas has definitely decreased."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I had to stop this Xifaxan after 9 days because it was making my IBS-D even worse. Two days later, and I'm still terrible. This drug is not worth the gamble when the best you can hope for is 'up to 6 months of relief.'"

• Yme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I started taking Xifaxan for suspected IBS and started having severe abdominal cramping within a few days. I called my doc six days in and told him I was in severe pain and had a low-grade fever, and he told me it’s normal to finish the 14-day course of treatment. I have suffered severe lower abdominal cramping. This is so bad I can’t stay silent when it happens, moaning and crying like a drama queen!"

• Bee...
• December 13, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I paid $750 for 42 pills. The coupons only work if you have no insurance and are dead broke. I took the 550 mg three times a day for 3 weeks. I had only minor improvement. This drug company should be ashamed. Totally outrageous."

• Bes...
• September 7, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I was put on Xifaxan three times a day for 14 days for post C. diff IBS-D. I am very sensitive to antibiotics and actually did not experience an allergy or horrible side effects, which is why I didn't rate it any lower. It was pretty tolerable to take. BUT it did not help my IBS-D; in fact, I now experience horrible urgency with IBS-D. And my lower belly has been horribly bloated since taking Xifaxan, and it has been a good month since finishing it. I literally look pregnant and am having a hard time fitting in my clothes. It is not as bad in the morning, but as soon as I eat, I am back to being extremely bloated. I assume it is colitis but haven't been back to my GI to confirm. I will post again on an update."

• Woo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I requested this medication from my GP after a long history of IBS-D and a recent diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis. I was symptom-free within 10 days, with a mild relapse occurring 12 weeks later. The relapse resolved with rest and dietary changes within 4 weeks. I had suffered from moderate to severe colitis for 6 months prior to being treated with Xifaxan. I would not hesitate to use it again if necessary."

• Owl...
• December 18, 2014

For Diarrhea "I have had a weight loss surgery called Duodenal Switch, which requires antibiotics periodically for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Xifaxan is the only thing that works for me for months until another flare. I thank God my GI prescribed it."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I have IBS-mostly D and lots and lots of lower abdominal cramping that I can't get under control. My Dr. prescribed this for me to help control the cramping. It seemed to work for the first few days, and then BAM! Stomach pain, and sharp shooting pains in my rectum and lower abdomen! So I stopped taking it. Also, my frequency to the bathroom did not change, nor did the D."

• Tex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "So far, this is great! Did experience a queasy stomach the first few days, but now all is good. But not a cure-all. If you have other food intolerances, this will not correct those. I am still mindful of what I eat. No sodas, greasy foods, milk (I use almond), or chocolate. These items cause me trouble regardless. I think this will work for me, at least I can eat without looking for the nearest bathroom."

• A -...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2015

For Crohn's Disease "I only just learned of Xifaxan after my 3.5-year remission streak ended with a brutal flare. Desperately longing only for some pred, I was instead prescribed Xifaxan 550 mg bid. But any disappointment faded on day 2 when I noticed it lowering the inflammation. Now I'm on day 5 and I'm impressed with this stuff. Pain is 80-90% lower and now eating normal meals without incident. I was on Flagyl for years, but it never quieted a flare like Xifaxan is doing now. I may be able to tell prednisone goodbye forever."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2022

For Hepatic Encephalopathy "Life-changing. I have a stage 4 cirrhotic decompensated liver due to PBC and NASH. I was so frustrated, confused, and depressed with HE symptoms. Terrible tinnitus and headache with mood and personality changes signaled it was time to take Lactulose again for a few weeks. I could not tolerate the GI problems or the sickeningly sweet taste of Lactulose daily, so I only took it when I noticed HE symptoms. Now I can comply with the anti-HE regimen easily. No more rollercoaster of symptoms. PBC with liver failure causes miserable fatigue and muscle wasting. To combat that, my nutritionist put me on a high-protein diet. That's only possible because Xifaxan does such a great job! So now my energy levels and mood are pretty close to normal despite being extremely ill. Thanks! Way too expensive, though. I'm fortunate to have good insurance and a doctor who is a pro at arguing for her patients to get the care they deserve, but $100/day is an obscene price!"

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "This medication has been a lifesaver. My symptoms included chronic constipation, extreme gas pain, farting, burping, and acid indigestion constantly. I have gastroparesis from nerve damage with early fullness, and most foods caused nausea, stomach pain, and noise with gurgling. I've been on a number of other ineffective meds in the past. Recently, my doctor put me on a 14-day trial of this medication at 550 mg 3x a day. I honestly felt a difference on day 2! Now I'm nearing completion of the 14 days, and almost all my extreme, very chronic symptoms are almost gone. I can successfully add in new foods and live a normal life. No gurgling and noise in my stomach, much more normal farting/burping, normal bowel movements, and minimal pain. Also, I have not experienced one side effect from this medication other than improved quality of life. I do also take Protonix for acid reflux, but this med has been the positive change. 100% recommend! I'm not sure about insurance coverage because I used samples."

• Che...
• July 15, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I have IBS with diarrhea. Out of pocket price $500.00 for Xifaxan 550 mg, three pills a day. It did not work for me at all. After two weeks of the pills diligently taken, waste of money. I had no side effects, but the pills did not work for me, the diarrhea persists, as does nausea, sweating, and stomach cramps. I have run out of ideas, as has the doctor. Don't waste your money."

• Jud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "Was prescribed Xifaxan for 2 weeks for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. It did help but didn't fully get rid of symptoms. I had sickness after eating, gas, stomach pain, etc. Was an improvement, though. I do have insurance, and the pharmacy had to use one coupon at a time, 2 pills per prescription. It was a pain, but I paid 50 dollars total."

• can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "Do not take this drug unless you have been diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). I was given this drug by a new GI after I told him that I had been tested for SIBO with negative results. The drug made me incredibly bloated, made the diarrhea worse, and my stomach was in constant pain. This might be effective if you have SIBO, but if you do not, do not take this drug. Not to mention, even with insurance coverage, my co-pay for a 2-week supply was around $500. I just totally wasted my money on this (yet again, useless drug)."

• 385...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 1, 2023

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I have taken Xifaxan a few times. I believe 3 rounds of 14 days over the last 2 years. Sadly, the IBS always comes back, and it seems like the more I took Xifaxan, the less effect it started to have, but it still helps. My doctor just put me on a 14-day regimen but has authorized me to use it every month now, but only 1 pill a day. I just wonder if 1 pill a day is enough as long as I continue to take it."

• Tim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "My doctor thought my IBS symptoms might be from SIBO, so he prescribed Xifaxan 550 mg x3 per day. After taking it for two days, I had to stop. My diarrhea became so bad, I was forced to stay up all night. I'm very glad it helps some people, but it definitely made my condition worse."

• Its...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "Had been suffering from crazy bloating and belching/gas within 30-90 minutes after eating for months. Chest would get tight, bad enough that it gave me an anxiety attack or two. Heartburn from the gas riding up the esophagus. I've always loved eating but was starting to not want to eat meals because of the constant discomfort. Saw a new GI doctor who suspected SIBO and prescribed Xifaxan. The first couple of days were a bit rough in the bowels; there was definitely something going on. After that, side effects went down to minimal, and eating started getting easier again! Still finishing the prescription, but this is the most hopeful I've felt in a while. It really seems to work!"

• A -...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2015

For Crohn's Disease "Turns out I jumped the gun in touting Xifaxan as a potential prednisone replacement for flare remission - at least on its own. The initial symptomatic relief continued but hit a plateau, requiring the addition of a corticosteroid. So my doctor additionally put me on Entocort EC, but this flare remains stubborn. No longer willing to suffer, I requested prednisone. Day 3 and striking improvements. I will taper off the prednisone using Entocort to reap the corticosteroid benefits while minimizing the nasty side effects. But because Xifaxan is so well tolerated, I stayed on it and will continue - probably even after a hopefully successful taper off the prednisone and Entocort. I'm curious as to whether Xifaxan can be used in conjunction with probiotics."

• Chr...
• July 31, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "The Target brand Acidophilus probiotic helped relieve my initial symptoms of IBS (gas every morning and reduced the frequency throughout the day, brain fog, and heavy stomach cramping). My gastroenterologist gave me a free 30-day sample to check its effectiveness on me in 2014. Xifaxan was not as effective as my acidophilus, gave me the urge to urinate too frequently, didn't stop my frequent gas (one of my main concerns), and is way too expensive to use on a daily basis. I'm still looking for a permanent solution as the Target Acidophilus has stopped working for me. Now I use the Country Life Acidophilus as it gives the most relief (except gas), is affordable, and comes with 250 tablets in a bottle so I don't run out as quickly."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "Xifaxan was super helpful and worked for my IBS for the first week, then stopped working. I think it might be because I accidentally got the pills wet, because that seems to be the point where my symptoms came back. Going to try to get my doctor's office to give me some free samples, as my insurance won’t cover it again for another 3 months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "Was 3 x a day at 550 mg. Had dry mouth, irritated throat, hard to swallow foods. Abdomen swelled. Became constipated. Lowered dosage to 2 x a day after 5 days. Drank throat coat tea to help dry throat. Stopped taking after 7 days."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "I've been through this med 3 times. The first two times barely worked (they worked while I took it), but symptoms immediately came back. The 3rd time I took it, I also ate a BelliWelli bar every day because my friend recommended them. They are brownies made for IBS and have probiotics. I think it was the combination of those with the Xifaxan that eventually worked. The 3rd time I took Xifaxan with the BelliWellis, I had no symptoms after taking."

• SHa...
• August 5, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea "Worked great! Took a couple of treatments. I have not had a problem with IBS since. No side effects. The reviews about SIBO should be removed from the IBS reviews. This drug is indicated for IBS-D, not for SIBO."