Pouchitis: rifaximin

About rifaximin

Rifaximin is an antibiotic that is taken by mouth. It is licensed to treat traveller's diarrhoea, and to treat a condition called hepatic encephalopathy, where people with liver failure develop problems with their brain function (such as confusion, memory problems and altered behaviour). Rifaximin is not licensed to treat pouchitis, and so this would be an off-label use of rifaximin.

Rifaximin is 1 of the treatment options that may be considered for people who have pouchitis that has not got better with other antibiotics. It may be given by itself, or it may be given with an antibiotic called ciprofloxacin.