Another Small Step Forward in Treating Patients with IBS

Rifaximin helps control bloating symptoms in some IBS patients.

The etiologies of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the mechanisms by which symptoms are produced vary but include disorders of gut motility, secretion, and sensation. In addition, small-intestinal motility disorders can result in small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which can lead to abdominal pain, distension, and diarrhea — all cardinal symptoms of IBS. IBS patients have a high prevalence of SIBO, and a few studies have indicated that some IBS symptoms improve with antibiotic therapy, albeit with side effects. In this study, investigators sought to determine whether treatment with a new nonabsorbable and well-tolerated antibiotic, rifaximin (Xifaxan), would improve symptoms in patients with IBS.

Researchers enrolled 87 patients …

Reviewing Author

M. Brian Fennerty, MD