Hepatic Encephalopathy Blog

FDA Approves New Use of Xifaxan for Patients with Liver Disease

Posted 29 Mar 2010 by Drugs.com

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the use of Xifaxan for reduction in the risk of the recurrence of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with advanced liver disease. This is a new use for Xifaxan (rifaximin), a drug that has been approved for the treatment of traveler's diarrhea. Hepatic encephalopathy is a worsening of brain function that can occur in patients whose liver can no longer remove toxins from the blood. Increased levels of ammonia in the blood are thought to play a role in the development of HE, and Xifaxan works by reducing these levels. "The approval of Xifaxan for this new indication provides an additional treatment option for patients with liver disease," said Joyce Korvick, M.D., deputy director for safety of FDA's Division of Gastroenterology Products. "Hepatic encephalopathy occurs ... Read more

Related support groups: Xifaxan, Hepatic Encephalopathy, Rifaximin