People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome frequently experience bouts of diarrhea and abdominal discomfort that are hard to treat. Physicians have been unable to determine a cause for this condition and have tried a variety of treatments. These include diet, fiber and medications such as laxatives or anti-diarrheal drugs. Antispasmodics and antidepressants have also been tried with mixed results. According to a new study, the antibiotic rifaximin can provide long-lasting relief. This antibiotic is not absorbed from the gut and is approved for treating travelers’ diarrhea. The participants took either antibiotic or placebo for two weeks. Many of those who got rifaximin reported less bloating, abdominal pain and loose stools for up to 10 weeks afterwards.
[New England Journal of Medicine, Jan. 6, 2011]
