Antibiotic May Benefit Irritable Bowel

Today, there may be good news for those who have irritable bowel disease. According to research published in the Annals of Medicine, Rifaximin an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat traveler?s diarrhea may improve symptoms in patients with irritable bowel disease or IBS. Those who have IBS typically have symptoms of bloating, significant gas and discomfort in addition to bowel habits that alternate between diarrhea and constipation. It is a condition that can cause significant emotional distress to people and may be a source of embarrassment. The cause of IBS is unknown. Imaging studies show a normal bowel. Some doctors and researchers believe that the condition is related to overgrowth of specific bacteria in the bowel. The researchers wanted to know if the antibiotic used for travelers diarrhea could help those with irritable bowel. To perform their study, they conducted a double-blind trial that included 87 adults with IBS. Half received Rifaximin for 10 days, and the other half placebo. The results showed that those who received the antibiotic had a 30% reduction in symptoms, in particular bloating. The treatment effect also persisted for many weeks after the treatment was stopped. No effect was noted in abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. Overall, this is the first study to suggest that oral antibiotics may be beneficial for those with irritable bowel disease. It also supports the notion that IBS may be related to bacterial overgrowth.