Study of antibiotic gives hope to patients with IBS

Rifaximin could be a breakthrough treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as researchers believe it is the first possible treatment for the potential causative factors of the disorder.

More than 50% improvement in symptoms was reported by patients who took rifaximin. The study is the first to demonstrate a sustained benefit of an antibiotic for IBS symptoms after treatment is stopped.

Commenting on the benefits of the drug, Dr Mark Pimentel, the study’s lead author noted that patients could take the antibiotic for a brief period of time and experience benefit for ten weeks.

However, the researchers did not detect a difference in symptoms of diarrhea or constipation. Rifaximin is FDA approved for the treatment of travelers’ diarrhea. The researchers commented a larger and longer study is necessary to evaluate the effects of treatment for other symptoms.

Rifaximin is an antibiotic that works in the gut without being absorbed into the blood stream and seems to cause few side effects than traditional treatments because it does not interact with other medications.

IBS is one of the most common chronic medical conditions affecting about 15 to 20% of the population.