Rifakem 550 Tablet
Prescription Required
Product introduction
Rifakem 550 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 Rifakem Tablet
- Treatment of Hepatic encephalopathy
- Treatment of Infectious diarrhea
Benefits of Rifakem 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. Rifakem 550 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. Rifakem 550 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 Rifakem 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 Rifakem
- 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 Rifakem 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. Rifakem 550 Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Rifakem Tablet works
Rifakem 550 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 Rifakem 550 Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Rifakem 550 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
Rifakem 550 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
Rifakem 550 Tablet does not usually affect your ability to drive.
Kidney
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Rifakem 550 Tablet is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Rifakem 550 Tablet may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.
Liver
CAUTION
Rifakem 550 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Dose adjustment of Rifakem 550 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
What if you forget to take Rifakem Tablet?
If you miss a dose of Rifakem 550 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.
Rifakem 550 Tablet
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Quick tips
- Rifakem 550 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 Rifakem 550 Tablet and inform your doctor if you have severe diarrhea during or after using Rifakem 550 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
Interaction with drugs
Taking Rifakem with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects
Amiodarone may raise blood levels of Rifaximin.
watch out for symptoms of Rifaximin side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, swelling or fatigue and consult your doctor if you ex
Azithromycin may raise blood levels of Rifaximin.
watch out for symptoms of Rifaximin side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, swelling or fatigue and consult your doctor if you
Azithromycin may raise blood levels of Rifaximin.
watch out for symptoms of Rifaximin side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, swelling or fatigue and consult your doctor if you
Azithromycin may raise blood levels of Rifaximin.
watch out for symptoms of Rifaximin side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, swelling or fatigue and consult your doctor if you
Amiodarone may raise blood levels of Rifaximin.
watch out for symptoms of Rifaximin side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, swelling or fatigue and consult your doctor if you ex
Patient concerns
User feedback
Patients taking Rifakem 550 Tablet
Twice A Day
78%
Thrice A Day
12%
Once A Day
9%
What are you using Rifakem Tablet for?
Infectious di*
40%
Hepatic encep*
40%
Diarrhea
20%
*Infectious diarrhea, Hepatic encephalopathy
How much was the improvement?
Excellent
78%
Average
22%
What were the side-effects while using Rifakem 550 Tablet?
No Side Effec*
100%
*No Side Effect
How do you take Rifakem Tablet?
With food
100%
Please rate Rifakem 550 Tablet on price
Expensive
100%
FAQs
Should I take Rifakem 550 Tablet with food?
Yes, Rifakem 550 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.
What does Rifakem 550 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. Rifakem 550 Tablet slows down the growth of bacteria in the gut, decreasing the symptoms in cases of liver disease.
Can Rifakem 550 Tablet cause weight gain?
Usually Rifakem 550 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: Alkem Laboratories Ltd
Address: Alkem Laboratories Limited, Devashish Building, Alkem House, Senapati Bapat Road, Lower Parel, Mumbai - 400 013.
Country of origin: India
Expires on or after: December, 2025
A licensed vendor partner from your nearest location will deliver Rifakem 550 Tablet. Once the pharmacy accepts your order, the details of the pharmacy will be shared with you. Acceptance of your order is based on the validity of your doctor's ℞ and the availability of this medicine.
Phone Number: 0124-4166666
Address: 5th Floor Tower - B of the Presidency Building, 46/4 Mehrauli Gurgaon Road, Sector 14, Gurugram, Haryana-122001, India
Expires on or after: December, 2025
A licensed vendor partner from your nearest location will deliver Rifakem 550 Tablet. Once the pharmacy accepts your order, the details of the pharmacy will be shared with you. Acceptance of your order is based on the validity of your doctor's ℞ and the availability of this medicine.
In case of any issues, contact us
Email ID: [email protected]Phone Number: 0124-4166666
Address: 5th Floor Tower - B of the Presidency Building, 46/4 Mehrauli Gurgaon Road, Sector 14, Gurugram, Haryana-122001, India
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1 Strip
10.0 tablets in 1 strip
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