Rifguard 550 Tablet used to treat infectious traveller's diarrhoea caused by E.coli bacteria, hepatic encephalopathy (decreased brain function due to liver disease) and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D). Traveller’s diarrhoea is an infection in which there is a passage of unformed stools. Hepatic encephalopathy causes loss of brain function when a damaged liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition which affects the large intestine. 

Rifguard 550 Tablet contains ‘Rifaximin’, which works by working on the bowel and preventing the spread of infections caused by the loss of beneficial gut bacteria.  Thus, Rifguard 550 Tablet helps in relieving abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Rifguard 550 Tablet should not be used in patients with diarrhoea complicated by fever or blood in the stool and diarrhoea due to pathogens other than Escherichia coli (E.coli).

Take Rifguard 550 Tablet with or without food. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as headache, peripheral oedema (leg swelling), nausea, dizziness, fatigue, ascites (excess fluid build-up in the abdomen), increased liver enzymes (ALT), and nausea. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.

Before starting Rifguard 550 Tablet , please inform your doctor if you have any allergy (against any antibiotic), kidney or liver problems. Do not take Rifguard 550 Tablet for more than 3 days unless prescribed; if there is no symptomatic improvement, consult your doctor. Avoid taking Rifguard 550 Tablet if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; talk to your doctor; he/she may prescribe you alternate medicine. Rifguard 550 Tablet is not recommended for children as efficacy and safety have not been established. Inform your doctor about all the medicines you are taking and about your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side effects.

Rifguard 550 Tablet belongs to the group of medicines called antibiotics used to treat infectious travellers diarrhoea, hepatic encephalopathy (decrease in brain function due to liver disease) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Rifguard 550 Tablet is used to treat traveller’s diarrhoea caused by non-invasive strains of E.coli. Rifguard 550 Tablet is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and ammonia-producing bacteria. Rifguard 550 Tablet is a gastrointestinal-selective antibiotic with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Rifguard 550 Tablet is bactericidal in nature and works by killing the bacteria that cause infections. Thus, it helps in treating and preventing the spread of infections.

Swallow the medicine as a whole with a glass of water; do not chew or break it.

• Headache
• Peripheral oedema (leg swelling)
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Ascites (excess fluid build-up in the abdomen)
• Increased liver enzymes (ALT)

Do not take Rifguard 550 Tablet if you are allergic to any of its contents, if you have a fever, blood in stools, passed 8 or more unformed stools in the last 24 hours, constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain caused by blockage of the bowel. Talk to your doctor if your condition does not improve, symptoms continue or re-appear even after taking Rifguard 550 Tablet for 3 days. Do not take Rifguard 550 Tablet for more than 3 days unless prescribed; if there is no symptomatic improvement, consult your doctor. Avoid taking Rifguard 550 Tablet if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; talk to your doctor; he/she may prescribe you with alternate medicine. Rifguard 550 Tablet is not recommended for children below 12 years of age as the efficacy and safety have not been established. Inform your doctor about all the medicines you are taking and about your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side effects. Patients with liver complications should avoid taking Rifguard 550 Tablet or consult a doctor before using Rifguard 550 Tablet .

Drug-Drug Interactions: Rifguard 550 Tablet may interact with the immune system, affecting drugs (cyclosporine) and blood thinners (warfarin). 

Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found/established.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Rifguard 550 Tablet should not be taken by people with colitis (inflammation in the lining of the colon), liver disease and diarrhoea caused by other than E coli bacteria.

• CYCLOSPORINE
• WARFARIN

• Antibiotics can alter the useful bacteria in the stomach, which helps indigestion. Therefore, you are advised to take foods rich in probiotics such as yoghurt/curd, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, kombucha, buttermilk, natto and cheese.
• Eat fibre-rich food like whole grains, beans, lentils, berries, broccoli, peas and bananas.
• Avoid foods rich in calcium, such as grapefruit and grapefruit juice, as they might hinder the absorption of antibiotics.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol to treat your condition effectively.
• Avoid the usage of tobacco.

• Prolonged intake of Rifguard 550 Tablet may cause diarrhoea caused by an overgrowth of bacteria known as C. difficile. This can cause mild to severe diarrhoea to life-threatening colitis (colon inflammation).
• Monitor bleeding time parameters like INR and prothrombin time while using Rifguard 550 Tablet .

Traveller’s diarrhoea: It is an intestinal infection in which there is the passage of unformed stools due to eating or drinking contaminated food or water while travelling. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, fever, gas, loss of appetite, and the urgent need to poop.

Hepatic/liver encephalopathy: It is a decrease in brain function due to liver disease. The liver cannot remove toxins from the body adequately, which results in a buildup of toxins in the blood, thereby leads to brain damage. Symptoms include confusion, forgetfulness, difficulty thinking, low concentration, personality changes, and problems with small hand movements.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): It is a condition which affects the large intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramps, gas, constipation, and diarrhoea.