Is extended treatment with Xifaxan safe?

I'm not sure which forum to post this in, but everyone here was really cool to me a few months ago so I figured I'd post it here.

My gastroenterologist put me on a 10 day course of Xifaxan, 200mg 3x a day. Today is my 10th day. I talked to him today and he wants me to stay on for another 10 days.

Does anyone know if this is a safe thing to do? As I understand it, Xifaxan is a relatively safe antibiotic that is only active in the intestines, but I know with antibiotics there is always some dangers. I was just reading about how some people who use Cipro end up with permanent CNS problems and an untreatable condition that resembles Fibromyalgia. I know Xifaxan is different from Cipro, but still.

So is it safe to be on Xifaxan for 20 days at 200mg 3x a day?

Also, the dr's assistant told me Xifaxan has "good probiotics in it" to help keep you from encountering issues that come from killing off all the other bacterias (C.Diff, etc.). I haven't read anything anywhere suggesting that that's the case, so that kind of makes me question her knowledge and therefore question that Xifaxan is safe long term.

Thanks VIEW IMAGE

Zanne (another poster) has been using this medication to help with her Crohns for awhile. I think that you will be safe taking it for another 10 days. I would think it would be a good idea to always take a good probiotic two hours after dose though.

Good luck,
Gail *Nanners*

Yup it should be safe to use for 20 days. It is used off label as a treatment for CD. I have been on it for almost 2 years. It has made a world of difference for me. I really don't know how it works for me, just that it has limited the number of bathroom trips a day from close to 20 to about 5. Other than that change it doesn't seem to have had any other effect. I haven't had any side effects. I know that the main use for Xifaxan is as a treatment for travelers diarrhea and that the drug company got involved in helping my doctor to get the approval from my insurance company for coverage. I had heard of Xifaxan as a possible treatment for several years before I started on it, but I'm not sure if it will ever be something that will be anything more than an off label use.

I was on Xifaxan for a couple of months 200mg 3/day. I finally quit due to yeast issues, but I admit I was not great about taking my probiotics.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone :)