The American College of Gastroenterology advises using Xifaxan, an antibacterial prescription medication. It is the drug of choice for treating adults with IBS-D, or irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

If you are taking Xifaxan, avoid eating or drinking grapefruit because it may change how well it works.

Knowing your body well will help you identify the foods that make you feel good and help you avoid or limit the foods that make you feel uneasy. To help you determine which foods you should eat and which ones you should avoid, you might think about keeping a food and symptom diary.

What is Xifaxan (Rifaximin)?

Xifaxan is an FDA-approved prescription drug manufactured by Salix Pharmaceuticals and is used for the treatment of the following medical conditions:

• Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults
• Traveler’s diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) in adults and children who are at least 12 years old
• Hepatic encephalopathy by stopping the growth of bacteria that produce toxins and that could potentially worsen liver disease, and lower the risk of a decline in brain function in adults with liver failure

Rifaximin is the substance that makes Xifaxam active. Rifaximin is a member of the antibiotics (also known as antibacterial drugs) drug class, which works to eliminate bacteria in the intestines. You can take it with or without food and it comes in tablet form for oral administration.

The dosage schedule for Xifaxan must be followed exactly. The effectiveness of the antibiotic treatment will be decreased if this medication is missed, and there is also a higher chance that the bacteria will develop drug resistance as a result. If you miss a dose of this medication, take it as soon as you remember. Never combine two doses into one. You should skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose.

Additionally, Xifaxan can be used to treat bloating brought on by medical conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Contrary to the large intestine (also referred to as the colon or gut), which houses the majority of your gut bacteria, the small intestine should not be overly populated with bacteria.

Foods to Avoid When Taking Xifaxan

Xifaxan should not be taken with specific foods, depending on why you are taking it.

For instance, if you have IBS, there are probably certain foods and beverages you should avoid because they make your symptoms worse. If you only have occasional diarrhea, you won’t need to eat any of these things.

Grapefruit Juice and Grapefruit

Certain medications stay in your system longer than they should because of grapefruit. You should avoid grapefruit while taking Xifaxan as it interacts with a number of other medications.

Raw Or Undercooked Meat Or Eggs

A bacterial infection can become more likely if you consume raw or undercooked meat, including fish.

This is particularly true if you have traveler’s diarrhea, which is typically brought on by consuming something that has been tainted with bacteria.

Undercooked foods like raw sushi and runny egg yolks should be avoided to lower your risk of contracting a gastrointestinal infection.

Here are some general guidelines on the correct internal temperatures for meat and egg dishes:

• Poultry: 165 degrees Fahrenheit
• Ground meat and egg dishes: 160 degrees Fahrenheit
• Fish, steaks, and roasts: 145 degrees Fahrenheit (plus a three-minute rest time for beef, veal, pork, and lamb

High-fat Foods

Whether it is IBS-related or caused by travel, fatty foods can make diarrhea worse. Some high-fat foods to avoid while on Xifaxan include:

• Non-lean cuts of beef or pork
• Lamb
• Poultry with the skin on
• processed meat, such as salami and bacon.
• Lard and cream, including cream-based soups and sauces
• Butter
• Cheese
• Ice cream
• Coconut (including coconut oil)
• Palm oil and palm kernel oil
• Some baked and fried foods
• Processed foods with any added fats from the sources above
• any greasy or fried food, including pizza, French fries, etc.

Foods High in Insoluble Fiber

Many fruits and vegetables, especially those with skin and seeds, are high in fiber, particularly insoluble fiber. This kind of fiber, which is abundant in whole grains and speeds up digestion, can aggravate diarrhea.

Solublefiber, like the kind in oats, absorbs water and forms a gel, so it isn’t as likely to cause diarrhea.

It’s good to eat plenty of fiber when you don’t have diarrhea, but during a bout of diarrhea, you should avoid foods that are especially high in insoluble fiber, like:

• Almonds
• Apples with the skin on
• Beans, lentils, and legumes (can also increase gas)
• Berries
• Coconut
• Dried apricots, prunes, raisins, dates, and figs
• Flaxseeds
• Green peas
• Oat bran
• Okra
• Pears with the skin
• Popcorn
• Potatoes with the skins on
• Radishes
• Rutabaga
• Spinach
• Sunflower seeds
• Turnips
• Walnuts
• Wheat bran and wheat germ
• Whole grains

Dairy Products (for Some)

Some people may experience worsening diarrhea after consuming dairy, particularly if you have a lactose intolerance.

Avoid dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, ice cream, cow’s milk, and other foods and beverages if you have diarrhea and are sensitive to them.

You can substitute any number of dairy-free foods.

Sugary Foods

When you consume a lot of concentrated sugar (such as that found in desserts, drinks, and sweets), water may enter your digestive tract to help balance the sugar load.

The effects of diarrhea may be exacerbated by drinking more water. Therefore, if you’re taking Xifaxan for diarrhea, you should avoid the following foods:

• Sugar-sweetened beverages
• Concentrated sweets (candy, ice cream, and other desserts)
• Processed foods with added sugar, such as flavored yogurt, sweetened cereal, and sweetened granola bars.

Alcohol

You should abstain from alcohol if you have severe liver disease and are taking Xifaxan for hepatic encephalopathy.

Alcohol consumption can exacerbate the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, such as confusion and slurred speech, as well as liver cirrhosis (liver scarring).

High-sodium Foods

A low-sodium diet may be advised by your doctor if you are taking Xifaxan for hepatic encephalopathy.

Salt contains sodium, which can lead to fluid retention and worsen the effects of liver disease.

Because processed foods tend to have higher sodium content than fresh foods, be sure to read the nutrition facts label and try to steer clear of anything that contains more than 20% of the recommended daily intake.

Other high-sodium foods to potentially avoid on Xifaxan include:

• Bread and rolls, including quick bread mixes
• Pizza
• Sandwiches
• Cold cuts and cured meats
• Soups
• Burritos and tacos
• Salty snacks (such as pretzels, jerky, chips, etc.)
• Cheese
• Fast food and restaurant food
• Canned soups
• A few condiments (soy sauce, salad dressings, etc.)

What Are the Most Common Side Effects of Xifaxan?

In clinical trials, nausea and an increase in liver enzymes were Xifaxan’s most frequent side effects when it was used to treat IBS-D. Only about 0.5% of those taking Xifaxan experienced constipation.

Dizziness, headaches, fatigue, swollen hands or feet, and abnormal liver function tests are some additional Xarelto side effects that are frequently reported.

Rarely, a type of resistant bacteria brought on by the drug Xifaxan may result in a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea).

There is a possibility that taking antibiotics like Xifaxan will result in diarrhea brought on by a bacterial overgrowth, which can manifest as anything from mild diarrhea to potentially fatal colitis.

Call your doctor right away if you experience cramping, severe stomach pain, a fast heartbeat, a fever, nausea, or very frequent, very watery diarrhea.

Call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you experience any of these side effects or have an allergic reaction while taking Xifaxan.

Other Things to Avoid While Taking Xifaxan

• It is unknown whether using Xifaxan while nursing or pregnant is safe. There are no studies on the use of Xifaxan in human pregnancies to determine its safety, but in some animal studies, Xifaxan caused malformations in the fetuses of animals taking Xifaxan.
• Since taking multiple antibiotics can harm your gut and possibly make your diarrhea worse, you may need to avoid taking other antibiotics while taking Xifaxan.
• After your initial treatment, Xifican may be used a further two times. Your healthcare professional might suggest a different drug after you have received treatment with Xifican three times.
• If Xifaxan is prescribed to you while you are also taking cyclosporine or warfarin, you should find out from your doctor what you should do.

Conclusion

Xifaxan is an antibiotic used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and traveler’s diarrhea as well as to lower the risk of hepatic encephalopathy, a side effect of liver disease.

In general, you should stay away from fatty foods, alcohol, high-sugar foods and drinks, undercooked meats, grapefruit, and foods high in sodium while taking Xifaxan.

Lean protein, probiotic-rich foods, bland foods, and any other foods you can tolerate given your health situation should all be consumed while taking Xifaxan.

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