Rifaximin for IBS without constipation

Rifaximin for IBS without constipation

Rifaximin, an oral, nonsystemic (poorly absorbed) broad-spectrum antibiotic, may help relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome according to two identically designed studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine. A total of 1060 patients who had IBS without constipation were randomized to rifaximin 550 mg three times daily for 2 weeks or matching placebo. The primary endpoint was a proportion of patients with adequate relief of global IBS symptoms; the secondary endpoint was relief of bloating. Significantly more patients in the rifaximin group had adequate relief of IBS symptoms during the first 4 weeks of treatment (40.7% vs 31.7%; P < 0.001), as well as improvement in bloating (40.2% vs 30.3%; P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups. The authors concluded that among patients who had IBS without constipation, treatment with rifaximin for 2 weeks provided significant relief of the IBS symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, and loose or watery stools (N Engl J Med 2011;364:22-32).

An accompanying editorial points out that the benefit from rifaximin was sustained over 10 weeks after a short 2-week treatment course, but also points out that benefit of the drug was a mere 9%-12% improvement over placebo, barely clinically relevant. Still, for patients who have IBS without constipation who have not responded to other therapies, a single treatment cycle could be tried (N Engl J Med 2011;364:81-82).