Jump to content

  • You are not alone. Join Celiac.com for trusted gluten-free answers and forum support.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Gluten In Rifaximin/xifaxan?

sfc83

Recommended Posts

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.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      Definitely worth speaking to your gastroenterologist about this. My own told me that by using Gaviscon a barrier forms over the contents of the stomach and stops gas and acid irritating the throat. In fact, he said to me that because I found relief using Gaviscon that was a very clear indicator that reflux was the cause of that particular issue. A wedge...
    2. HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour
      - HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour replied to HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      I did get the pneumonia vaccine about 4 years ago. I had this amazing allergist who did all those vitamin deficiencies test and told to get that vaccine. Unfortunately she retired. I haven’t been to an allergist in a few years, I’m not sure what my levels are now. I did have a pulmonologist who wasn’t concern and said I seemed fine to him that I was young...
    3. HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour
      - HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour replied to HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      Yes I do have acid reflux. I’m not on anything for it at the moment. I sometimes wonder if that’s what it could be because I get heart burn every night. I may revisit my gastrointestinal doctor again. Thanks for the reply
    4. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      Hi @HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour I wonder if you suffer from reflux, as if you do, you may find it could also be irritating your airways. I shall explain: I have to use a blue inhaler from time to time, and it seems to be related to reflux. Never had any trouble before my coeliac diagnosis, the reflux seemed to be something that developed following...
    5. trents
      - trents replied to HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      6

      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      Since initially getting your D checked a few years ago, has it since rebounded to normal levels? Sounds like at some point you got it checked again.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,125
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    psasso76
    Newest Member
    psasso76
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      By cristiana · Posted

      Definitely worth speaking to your gastroenterologist about this. My own told me that by using Gaviscon a barrier forms over the contents of the stomach and stops gas and acid irritating the throat.  In fact, he said to me that because I found relief using Gaviscon that was a very clear indicator that reflux was the cause of that particular issue.   A wedge pillow will really help with this - or raising the top bed legs with bricks.
    • HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour
      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      By HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour · Posted

      I did get the pneumonia vaccine about 4 years ago. I had this amazing allergist who did all those vitamin deficiencies test and told to get that vaccine. Unfortunately she retired.  I haven’t been to an allergist in a few years,  I’m not sure what my levels are now. I did have a pulmonologist who wasn’t concern and said I seemed fine to him that I was young etc. But yes I think I should at the very least get a different opinion. Thank you for your reply 
    • HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour
      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      By HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour · Posted

      Yes I do have acid reflux. I’m not on anything for it at the moment. I sometimes wonder if that’s what it could be because I get heart burn every night. I may revisit my gastrointestinal doctor again. Thanks for the reply  
    • cristiana
      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @HelloFlowersGoodbyeFlour I wonder if you suffer from reflux, as if you do, you may find it could also be irritating your airways.  I shall explain: I have to use a blue inhaler from time to time, and it seems to be related to reflux.  Never had any trouble before my coeliac diagnosis, the reflux seemed to be something that developed following a holiday to France in 2019, where I had been exposed to gluten.    The reflux continued into the autumn and winter, my throat itched to begin with, particularly after meals, but it then that feeling of irritation seemed to spread to my lungs.  I even found it difficult to breathe on occasion. What stopped it in its tracks was using a wedge pillow at night, following a reflux diet (you can find them online), not eating 2-4 hours before bed and also having a dose of Gaviscon Advanced at night, which forms a barrier so that acid/food can't go back up your esophagus.  The throat irritation faded, and then I found it easier to breathe again. Just mentioning in case it could be a contributing factor.
    • trents
      Anyone else get a lot of upper respiratory infections?

      By trents · Posted

      Since initially getting your D checked a few years ago, has it since rebounded to normal levels? Sounds like at some point you got it checked again.
×
×
  • Create New...