Helifax 550mg Tablets

Rifaximin is an antibiotic that acts mainly inside the gut. It is used to:

• treat travellers' diarrhoea caused by certain bacteria
• help prevent hepatic encephalopathy (confusion and other brain problems caused by liver disease) by reducing gut bacteria that make toxins
• treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D)

It does not work for colds, flu or other viral infections, or for diarrhoea with fever or blood.

Take rifaximin as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, at about the same times each day.

• You can take it with or without food.
• Finish the full course, even if you feel better.
• For travellers' diarrhoea, you should feel better within 1 to 2 days. Contact your doctor if you do not, or if you get a fever or blood in your diarrhoea.
• If you take it for hepatic encephalopathy, do not stop without talking to your doctor.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless the next dose is nearly due. Never take a double dose.

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick or stomach pain
• dizziness, headache or unusual tiredness
• muscle tightness or joint pain

Contact your doctor straight away if you have:

• watery or bloody diarrhoea, with or without stomach cramps or fever, during treatment or up to 2 months afterwards
• signs of an allergic reaction: hives, rash, swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to rifaximin or any other medicine
• have or have had liver disease
• take any other medicines, vitamins, supplements or herbal products
• are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding

Keep in the original, tightly closed container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture (not in the bathroom), and out of the reach of children.

Diarrhoea after antibiotics: severe diarrhoea can happen even weeks after finishing the course. Contact your doctor rather than treating it yourself.

Pregnancy: tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to be, and call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking it.

Breastfeeding: ask your doctor before taking it.