This post is meant to raise awareness of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and a treatment option that sufferers can ask their doctor about.
This is a sponsored post. Salix Pharmaceuticals compensated me for this post. All opinions are my own. Certain product information has been included to meet regulations.
As many of you know, I like to approach women’s health topics candidly on Romy Raves, and lately I find myself more interested in exploring health and wellness challenges that are relevant to women. Last month, I wrote an enlightening post on Osteoporosis and today, in honor of IBS Awareness Month, I am discussing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common intestinal disease associated with unpredictable bowel movements.
About 1 in every 10 Americans suffer from IBS, and people who have family members who suffer from IBS are more than twice as likely to develop the problem themselves. People with IBS usually have stomach (abdominal) pain at least 1 day a week, for at least 3 months, and if more than 25% of bowel movements are loose or watery and less than 25% are hard or lumpy, it could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D).
While doing my research for this post, I found out that approximately 40% of people with IBS have IBS-D and that it affects both men and women almost equally (which was surprising to me). The exact cause of IBS-D is unknown, but it is believed that one of the possible causes is an imbalance in the gut bacteria that may lead to IBS-D symptoms. Other possible causes of IBS-D include communication problems between the brain and the digestive system and problems with the immune system.
Living with IBS-D can take a toll on a person’s life. People with IBS-D symptoms tend to feel frustrated and embarrassed by their condition, and therefore they tend to limit situations where there isn’t a bathroom nearby. They tend to avoid social engagements, long car/plane rides and going on vacation because they fear not making it to the bathroom on time.
In preparation for writing this post, I had an honest chat with a very close girlfriend of mine who has struggled with IBS-D for many years, and I asked her what her biggest challenges were related to this condition. Aside from the on and off physical pain and discomfort, her biggest frustration about having IBS-D is loss of control of her bodily functions. In other words, she’s sometimes worried about having uncontrollable gas in public as well as not being able to make it to the bathroom on time. Honestly, I was really surprised by the high level of anxiety that she struggles with and the significant impact it has had on her life.
Given the significant impact that IBS-D can have on everyday life, I was shocked to learn that nearly two in five people with IBS-D wait more than three years before seeing a doctor about their symptoms. What?! And although there is no cure for IBS-D, there are treatments that address the symptoms, and today I would like to tell you about one of them.
XIFAXAN® is a prescription antibiotic that works mainly in the digestive tract to treat IBS-D in adults. It is the only FDA-approved treatment that alters the bacteria in your gut that have been linked to symptoms of IBS-D. XIFAXAN is a short-term treatment, taken every day for 2 weeks, and it provides up to 6 months of relief (range of 6-24 weeks; average of 10 weeks) from IBS-D symptoms. If symptoms return, you can be retreated up to two times with XIFAXAN, however it is not something that you take indefinitely.
To anyone suffering with IBS-D, I encourage you talk to your doctor about treatment options, as having an open conversation is an important step in managing your symptoms.
Xifaxan Important Safety Information:
INDICATION
XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets are indicated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- XIFAXAN is not for everyone. Do not take XIFAXAN if you have a known hypersensitivity to rifaximin, any of the rifamycin antimicrobial agents, or any of the components in XIFAXAN.
- If you take antibiotics, like XIFAXAN, there is a chance you could experience diarrhea caused by an overgrowth of bacteria (C. difficile). This can cause symptoms ranging in severity from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. Contact your healthcare provider if your diarrhea does not improve or worsens.
- Talk to your healthcare provider before taking XIFAXAN if you have severe hepatic (liver) impairment, as this may cause increased effects of the medicine.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking drugs called P-glycoprotein and/or OATPs inhibitors (such as cyclosporine) because using these drugs with XIFAXAN may lead to an increase in the amount of XIFAXAN absorbed by your body.
- In clinical studies, the most common side effects of XIFAXAN in IBS-D were nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and an increase in liver enzymes.
- XIFAXAN may affect warfarin activity when taken together. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking warfarin because the dose of warfarin may need to be adjusted to maintain proper blood-thinning effect.
- If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk to your healthcare provider before taking XIFAXAN because XIFAXAN may cause harm to an unborn baby or nursing infant.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For product information, adverse event reports, and product complaint reports, please contact:
Salix Product Information Call Center
Phone: 1-800-321-4576
Fax: 1-510-595-8183
Email: salixmc@dlss.com
Please click here for full Prescribing Information
XIFI.0190.USA.19
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This is such great info. I have a family member suffering from this and will share the details.
IBS can be very difficult but with the right treatment I think one can alleviate some of the symptoms. Tough thing to live with however.
I totally agree and I love sharing a treatment that can help
i dont have IBS but for my friends who do, i’ll suggest they speak to their dr. its just wiser than trusting online sources. just my 2 cents!
I agree, your doctor knows what’s best for you
I am luckily not a sufferer but I know a few people who are so will pass on your post
J think my husband might have this condition, very similar. Thanks for the reccomendation!
More people suffer from this than we might think. Great article for those managing IBS.
I never knew about IBS until I read this. Glad that your raising an awareness and sharing about this.
It is definitely important to talk to a healthcare professional first. Better safe than sorry if you’re taking anything. My friend has IBS and she does okay but it def doesn’t make her happy.
I too have a friend who suffers from IBS so I’m sure they can relate to this post. I don’t know whether this is available where she is, but I’ll gladly share it with her. Thank you for an informative post.
Make sure she speaks to her doctor
I have friends who suffer from this. Thank you for discussing this, I will be sure to mention that antibiotic to them
That must be so tough.. Thank you for sharing some advice and information about IBS. It was really an interesting topic.
I suffer from diarrhoea quite often but never know what causes it. While I don’t think I have ibs, it’s still good to be informed. Thank you for this.
I hope my post made you think about discussing this with your doctor
I did not know this disorder also because I do not know anyone who suffers from it, but precisely for this reason talking about it and informing it is important.
Wow, really good to know what works.
My Sister struggles with terrible IBS. It is so important to raise awareness. Great post
I’m so happy to help!
Thanks for sharing the importance of IBS. I know many people are embarrassed of it but a lot of people do have this issue.
It can be a struggle but there are things that can help
Thanks for sharing your nice review of this antibiotic. It will be helpful to many.
This is such an informative post! My dad suffers from IBS and I know how much pain he goes through every day 😑 I’ve also learned a lot of things about IBS-D from this post.
So glad that you found it informative!
I have a friend with this and its awful. thanks for such a great informational post to spread awareness
I love sharing information that can help
Yikes! This seems rough. Gives new meaning to “Tummy troubles!” Thanks for sharing. I know it will help so many!
Yes I agree! People shouldn’t have to suffer when there are things that can help
Wow! This is a very informative post! I really appreciate it since I’m a pharmacist.
Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know. Come back anytime, I love raising awareness about women’s health issues.
IBS-D is a condition that may even have an effect psychologically. People who suffer from this illness would rather stay at home than to risk being embarrassed in public. I am glad that there is help for them. I will share this information if I do know of a friend or family member who is suffering from IBS-D.
Please do! Being informed really helps
My roommate suffered through terrible IBS in college. I am totally forwarding her this email. Hopefully it helps.
Thank you so much for sharing!
I know a few people that suffer from IBS, it is honestly more common than you think. It is good that that people like yourself write about these times of subjects.
Yes me too! That’s exactly why I wrote this post
Ahh, sounds tough. Thank you for all of these information. I wasn’t really aware about this.
Thank you for sharing. I really value your input and advice dear. Your so inspiring.
Awww thanks, it’s my pleasure!
I am glad that there is something sufferers of IBS-D can take for relief of their symptoms. Although this does not provide long term relief, it is still good to take to prevent any embarrassing scenario that may arise.
Me too! I love sharing things that can help women feel healthier
I have a friend who actually has both C and D. It can really turn good days into nightmares.
Yes it can be hard to manage at times
Great info for those struggling with this issue. I’m sure it will help a lot of people out!
I know a couple of people and IBS. I’m glad there is something out there that can help them.
Yes me too!
I have a lot of people in my life that deal with IBS. I think based on what they tell me it is definitely the D version.
So many people struggle with it
Super important read for so many of us that have no clue about this! Thanks for sharing and the education.
Glad to share useful information
I cannot imagine having to live with this disease. Thanks for sharing this very helpful information.
Yes, unfortunately many people struggle with it
For a really long time, my friend’s mom is suffering from IBS. I will suggest that she checks out XIFAXAN. 🙂
Make sure she discusses it with her doctor
Thank you so much for this! It is really helpful if you know more about this condition.
Thanks for all these helpful tips. It’s very important to know all these things to stay healthy!
I see quite a few people having this problem of lately. It was good to go through and learn.
I am glad they have treatment options to help.
Me too & happy to share one of them
I’m raising my hand. I have IBD-C. It’s just – LOVELY. Ha! THANKFULLY for the most part I have it under control, but there are moments where I just want to curl up in a ball, that’s for sure!
So sorry to hear that you are suffering with this but glad you have found things that help
That can certainly be disruptive on a person’s lifestyle. Thank you for sharing.
I don’t suffer from this, but I do know a few people who do. This has got a lot of great information. I’ll have to share this with them. Thanks for sharing.
I have had IBS years ago due to stress. I didn’t take anything prescribed but I wish I knew about this. Thank you for bringing awareness to people who suffer with IBS. It’s difficult for some to talk about or get the right help for.
Thank you for your candor and I am glad to raise awareness about a treatment that helps
I have always thought my husband had IBS. I really am not sure if he does or doesn’t but it seems like he is always on the toilet.
He should definitely discuss his condition with his doctor.
I’m lactose intolerant and know all about bowel issues, but I could not imagine having to deal with it all the time, as IBS sufferers do. How wonderful that there’s treatment available.
You are lucky that you know the cause of it
Thank you so much for bringing awareness to this. I totally didn’t even know there was such a thing as IBS-D. So many more people than we think probably are suffering from this. Such a great post!
Thanks so much, it is my pleasure to raise awareness about IBS-D
This is so eye opening. I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as IBS-D. So many people probably are suffering and not even realizing it. Thank you for bringing awareness to this topic!
My pleasure, it’s why I love blogging!
Wow, I have learned more about this more than I ever knew before. I am glad that you’re helping to spread awareness.
So glad my blog is educational
Oh, gosh. I have a friend with this, and it gives her such a terrible time. Thank you for sharing this. it’s going to help a lot of people.
Yes me too, glad to help!