Traveler's diarrhea sometimes develops in people visiting a foreign country who are sickened by bacteria to which their bodies are not accustomed (typically noninvasive E. coli). Rifaximin is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat this form of diarrhea. It works by slowing the rate at which the bacteria can grow.
Common Side Effects
Most medications, prescription or over-the-counter, can lead to side effects. Most of the side effects caused by rifaximin are mild, involving disturbances in the gastrointestinal system. These include gas, abdominal discomfort, stomach pain and vomiting. Other adverse effects affect bowel movement, including constipation, feeling like you to need to empty your bowels more frequently, and urgent bowel movements. Rifaximin can also cause a headache. If these side effects are very bothersome or alarming, call your doctor.
Serious Side Effects
Although rare, some of the adverse effects from rifaximin can be serious. Chief among these is the potential for an allergic reaction. Some of these allergic side effects can be mild, such as a rash or hives. Other allergic reactions include swelling of the feet, hands, lips, face and tongue. In the most severe cases rifaximin allergies can make it difficult to breathe and swallow, as well as cause hoarseness and tightness in your chest. Allergic reactions can be very serious, so stop taking rifaximin immediately if you have any of these symptoms and call your doctor.
Antibiotic Resistance
Bacteria sometimes become resistant to antibiotics. As a result of naturally occurring genetic mutations, some of the bacteria in your body are somewhat resistant to rifaximin. If you take only a partial course of rifaximin or otherwise do not use it properly, there is the chance that other bacteria in your body will be killed but the resistant bacteria will remain, allowing them to colonize. That increases the chance that you will develop an infection with bacteria that cannot be easily treated with rifaximin and that they could spread to infect other people.
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