Rifaximin

[Mel1961]

My husband was prescribed, Rifaximin at clinic yesterday , has anyone else been on this, did it help ?

[AyrshireK]

My hubby has been on Rifaximin since June 2014 - at his transplant assessment as they picked up what they described as "a suggestion of Hepatic Encephalopathy". He has symptoms of minor HE in that he has sleep disruption, difficulty concentrating, difficulty understanding information, difficulty at time formatting sentences or making himself understood, forgets simple things like how to fill in a cheque and such like. He still has all these same symptoms BUT has never gotten any worse or demonstrated any of the more serious symptoms of HE.

We can't say whether this is down to the rifaximin or not really. He also takes 20 ml lactulose morning and night.

Rifaximin combined with lactulose is now the recommended treatment for HE.

Hope it helps your husband too.

Katie

p.s. if your husband is displaying symptoms of HE we've had some members who reported that they saw major positive changes by cutting out red meat or almost going veggie. We've not done that as hubby remains fairly stable as regards HE.

[Mel1961 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you , that was most helpfull , I understand a lot better now, my husband has also what they call flapping hands , he takes Lactulose, three times a day , we are still going through the assement stage for transplant .

[AyrshireK in reply to Mel1961]

The flapping hands is a more advanced symptom of HE also known as asterixis, hopefully, the rifaximin and lactulose regime will work for him - a friend who posted on here for a while found massive improvement in her hubbies very advanced HE by introducing a veggie diet - sadly he wasn't a candidate for T/P.

My hubby was listed for T/P June 2014 but delisted 10 months later as his bloods all stabilised (though symptoms persist) & it took him out of the criteria for transplant just now and we have gone back to the watch, wait and monitor stage.

Hope your husband gets listed soon.

All the best

Katie

[jojokarak]

Rifaximin helped me for a good while and flapping hands was usually one of the first signs I was about to be admitted to hospital I was eventually prescribed enemas to try and get rid of the toxins without admittance but you have to be aware that infections can also cause a h.e. attack so if it's not clearing you will need to take him to a GP I had a few infections over a period of time and they were usually kidney ones so just be observant x. Good luck with the transplant assessment

[Mel1961]

Thank you for the advice , it’s much appreciated,my poor husband has unfortunately, has been in Hospital at least once and sometimes twice a month over the last six months , he also has trouble with his kidneys , he has Hepatorenal syndrome Type 2, and thanks for the advice much appreciated

[Dldtx]

That and Lactulose solution has help me extremely , also the Change of some medication and creams that where helpful but they where causing more problems then worth some are harder to get out of the body so the toxins where building up , so less toxins in less to get out . Good luck

DLD 🤠

[Lucdizz]

Hi Mel,

I took it for over a year and my husband tells me that it did helped me a great deal, very pricey med, the day before my liver transplant, I got it refilled so I have a whole bottle full, it would make me happy to pass it on to someone with liver problems but I live in the US 🇺🇸 I hope it helps your husband.

Luc

[dckimberly]

I’m on it daily for hepatic enchalopothy. It works I guess, although I have to take another stronger antibiotic three times a week with it also..does he have HE also? It seems to be the standard for killing off toxins in the gut.

[Mel1961]

Hi thank you all for your reply’s , he does have H E , but keeps having stronger symptoms, hence he just seems to be in out of hospital,rwe just take one day at a time. I hope you all have a happy new year and thanks for all your great advice x