Rifahem 20mg Tablet
Prescription Required
Product introduction
Rifahem 20mg Tablet is an antibiotic that treats hepatic encephalopathy, a condition in which the liver fails to remove harmful toxins from the blood, leading to brain damage. It is also used to treat infectious diarrhea. It works by killing and stopping the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines.
This medicine can be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time, each day. It should be used in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. Take it at the same time each day to get the most benefit and you should keep on taking this medicine for as long as you are prescribed. Stopping it early may make the infection to come back and harder to treat.
Some people may develop side effects like vomiting, headache, dizziness, nausea, rashes, joint pain, and depression. These side effects are usually temporary and go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you or will not go away. Your urine may become reddish in color due to this medicine. But, it is normal and harmless.
Before starting treatment with this medicine, you should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffering from any liver, kidney or heart problems or if you are allergic to any medicine.
This medicine can be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time, each day. It should be used in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. Take it at the same time each day to get the most benefit and you should keep on taking this medicine for as long as you are prescribed. Stopping it early may make the infection to come back and harder to treat.
Some people may develop side effects like vomiting, headache, dizziness, nausea, rashes, joint pain, and depression. These side effects are usually temporary and go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you or will not go away. Your urine may become reddish in color due to this medicine. But, it is normal and harmless.
Before starting treatment with this medicine, you should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffering from any liver, kidney or heart problems or if you are allergic to any medicine.
Uses of Rifahem Tablet
- Treatment of Hepatic encephalopathy
- Treatment of Infectious diarrhea
Benefits of Rifahem Tablet
In Treatment of Hepatic encephalopathy
Hepatic encephalopathy is a severe liver disease that can cause changes in brain function leading to confusion, tremors (shaking), sleep problems and loss of consciousness. Symptoms include agitation, confusion, muscle problems, difficulty in speaking, and sometimes, coma. Rifahem 20mg Tablet lowers the levels of ammonia-producing bacteria in the blood which has harmful effects on the brain. If taken as prescribed, this medicine can improve your brain function and reduce symptoms associated with hepatic encephalopathy.
In Treatment of Infectious diarrhea
Infectious diarrhea is a condition characterized by the sudden onset of loose or watery stools caused by harmful microorganisms in the digestive system. Rifahem 20mg Tablet helps treat infectious diarrhea by targeting and stopping the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines. This medicine interferes with the bacteria's ability to make important proteins they need to survive and multiply. This helps to get rid of the bad bacteria causing the infection, which in turn reduces the diarrhea and helps you feel better.
Side effects of Rifahem Tablet
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Rifahem
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Peripheral edema
- Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity)
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages)
- Joint pain
- Rash
- Muscle pain
How to use Rifahem Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Rifahem 20mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Rifahem Tablet works
Rifahem 20mg Tablet is an antibiotic. It works by killing the ammonia-producing bacteria in the digestive tract. This treats your infection and relieves symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy (agitation, confusion, muscle problems). This also helps reduce the recurrence of episodes of hepatic encephalopathy.
Safety advice
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Rifahem 20mg Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Rifahem 20mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Rifahem 20mg Tablet is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.
Driving
SAFE
Rifahem 20mg Tablet does not usually affect your ability to drive.
Kidney
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Rifahem 20mg Tablet is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Rifahem 20mg Tablet may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.
Liver
CAUTION
Rifahem 20mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Dose adjustment of Rifahem 20mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
What if you forget to take Rifahem Tablet?
If you miss a dose of Rifahem 20mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
No substitutes found for this medicine
Quick tips
- Rifahem 20mg Tablet reduces the risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence in patients with liver disease.
- It may cause reddish discoloration of urine. This is normal and harmless.
- Stop taking Rifahem 20mg Tablet and inform your doctor if you have severe diarrhea during or after using Rifahem 20mg Tablet.
- Finish the full course of the medication, even if you feel better.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Rifamycin derivatives
Habit Forming
No
Therapeutic Class
GASTRO INTESTINAL
Action Class
RNA polymerase inhibitors- Rifamycins
Patient concerns
FAQs
Q. Should I take Rifahem 20mg Tablet with food?
Yes, Rifahem 20mg Tablet can be taken orally with or without food with a glass of water. Take it as prescribed by your doctor for the exact period of time.
Q. What does Rifahem 20mg Tablet do for the liver?
In liver disease, there is an increased growth of bacteria in the intestine which increases the load of toxins travelling through the body. This further increases the possibility of toxins reaching the brain which can cause abnormal brain function. Rifahem 20mg Tablet slows down the growth of bacteria in the gut, decreasing the symptoms in cases of liver disease.
Q. Can Rifahem 20mg Tablet cause weight gain?
Usually Rifahem 20mg Tablet does not cause weight gain. However, in case you feel there is an increase in weight, you should consult your doctor to determine the reason of weight gain.
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Disclaimer:
Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.References
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 1215-16.
- Rifaximin [Package Insert]. Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; 2015. [Accessed 05 Aug. 2023] (online) Available from:
- CiplaMed. Rifaximin [Prescribing Information]. [Accessed 05 Aug. 2023] (online) Available from:
Marketer details
Name: Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Address: “Elder House” Plot No. C-9, Dalia Industrial Estate, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai – 400053.
Country of origin: India
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10.0 tablets in 1 strip
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