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Gluten In Rifaximin/xifaxan?

sfc83

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sfc83 Rookie
sfc83
Posted

I was recently diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) after a positive lactulose hydrogen breath test. My GI has prescribed me Rifaximin. I called the manufacturer, Salix Pharmaceuticals, and they could not confirm that Rifaximin is gluten free. Has anyone taken this antibiotic, and if so, do you know if it contains gluten? I would also be interested in knowing whether anyone had an adverse reaction to Rifaximin.

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Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

What exactly did they say? Most manufacturers, in my experience, will say something to the effect of "we don't use any gluten containing ingredients but don't test our final product... blah blah blah" which is a CYA statement. No manufacturer (to the best of my knowledge) guarantees that their drugs are gluten free because it creates a liability issue, but most will state whether or not they use any gluten containing ingredients in a particular product.

 

If this manufacturer doesn't know, contact other pharmacies to see what generic manufacturer they use and contact those manufacturers. You aren't tied to a particular pharmacy.

sfc83 Rookie
sfc83
Posted
  • Author

What exactly did they say? Most manufacturers, in my experience, will say something to the effect of "we don't use any gluten containing ingredients but don't test our final product... blah blah blah" which is a CYA statement. No manufacturer (to the best of my knowledge) guarantees that their drugs are gluten free because it creates a liability issue, but most will state whether or not they use any gluten containing ingredients in a particular product.

 

If this manufacturer doesn't know, contact other pharmacies to see what generic manufacturer they use and contact those manufacturers. You aren't tied to a particular pharmacy.

Thank you for your reply. They just said that they could not guarantee that the medication was gluten free, and they pointed me to an ingredients list, listed below. I did look on www.glutenfreedrugs.com , and Rifaximin was listed as gluten free. I am always a bit paranoid however, since manufacturers change ingredients/suppliers from time to time, which is why I was curious if anyone on this site had reacted to the medication. Regarding generics, I do not believe that they currently exist for this antibiotic.

 

Each 200 mg tablet contains colloidal silicon dioxide, disodium edetate, glycerol

palmitostearate, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, propylene glycol, red iron oxide,

sodium starch glycolate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

 

Each 550 mg tablet contains colloidal silicon dioxide, glycerol palmitostearate,

microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol/macrogol, polyvinyl alcohol, red iron oxide,

sodium starch glycolate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I would just call them back and ask if any of the ingredients are sourced from wheat. You aren't asking for a guarantee, no such thing exists in the pharmaceutical business. Even Apotex, which is a gluten free manufacturer, will not make such a guarantee because of legal reasons. You just want to know if the ingredients come from wheat which you can't know by reading what the ingredients are on a list. I honestly don't know a thing about the ingredients in drugs, I always just call the manufacturer and talk to them. For anything I take regularly I call them every 3-6 months for a "checkup" to make sure they're still safe. I just ask if the it is gluten free, point out I'm not looking for a legal disclaimer, I just need to know if anything is sourced from wheat. They are always more than happy to help.

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

Hi SFC, and Welcome to the Forum  :)

 

The ingredients as you listed look fine.  As Addy said, they have a typical CYA statement.  For me personally I would be satisfied and take the drug as prescribed.  If you have an adverse reaction to the drug it will not be caused by gluten.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

 

Colleen

sfc83 Rookie
sfc83
Posted
  • Author

I would just call them back and ask if any of the ingredients are sourced from wheat. You aren't asking for a guarantee, no such thing exists in the pharmaceutical business. Even Apotex, which is a gluten free manufacturer, will not make such a guarantee because of legal reasons. You just want to know if the ingredients come from wheat which you can't know by reading what the ingredients are on a list. I honestly don't know a thing about the ingredients in drugs, I always just call the manufacturer and talk to them. For anything I take regularly I call them every 3-6 months for a "checkup" to make sure they're still safe. I just ask if the it is gluten free, point out I'm not looking for a legal disclaimer, I just need to know if anything is sourced from wheat. They are always more than happy to help.

Thank you for your reply, Adalaide. This helps a lot.

sfc83 Rookie
sfc83
Posted
  • Author

Hi SFC, and Welcome to the Forum  :)

 

The ingredients as you listed look fine.  As Addy said, they have a typical CYA statement.  For me personally I would be satisfied and take the drug as prescribed.  If you have an adverse reaction to the drug it will not be caused by gluten.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

 

Colleen

Thanks Colleen, I am planning to give it a go with the drug. Hopefully all goes well.

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