Rifaximin for Hepatic Encephalopathy User Reviews

• Smo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "I have been on Xifaxan for 1 month now. I'm on Medicare, so you know that story. It took me 9 months to finally acquire it. Before Xifaxan, I spent my day like a dog chasing my tail. It has done a tremendous job of clearing up my thought process. I would like to add this comment: shame on you, the Food and Drug Cartel. Who are the real criminals here?"

• hep...
• January 30, 2015

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "I had taken Lactulose for almost 5 years before Xifaxan came out. I had a lot of diarrhea, general bloating, and abdominal discomfort with Lactulose. That all disappeared when I started Xifaxan, and I would encourage patients to do themselves a favor and improve their quality of life by asking their doctor for Xifaxan. My ammonia is less than 25, better than when I took Lactulose, and my feeling of well-being is 10 out of 10."

• oLt...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 17, 2017

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "The whole premise of offering a life-saving drug to patients, only to change the policy after the first year's trial was successful. This company should not be allowed to offer a life-saving drug, gain notoriety and good press when, in actuality, the patients that are responsible for the 'trial' are just completely dismissed. The majority of people with digestive health issues this bad are seniors. So for the company Salix to offer this and promote any kind of affordability is just sad. Morally and ethically wrong for business. Who can afford a prescription that costs the customer $750 a month? As if that itself weren't bad enough (that is a rent or mortgage payment), the company acknowledges that they do not and will not accept Medicare."

• Kah...
• August 3, 2017

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "$1,375 with insurance and insurance won't cover but $12.50. Highway robbery and not worth it, in my opinion. Will try and fix some other way. Drug companies should be ashamed, and BC/BS should be abolished. You all high and mighty CEOs need to think about the patients."

• Bon...
• December 8, 2016

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "Miracle drug is the first comment that comes to mind. I have end-stage liver disease and currently wait patiently on the transplant list. I cannot explain my life or more, even my unbearable existence I have undergone in the last several years. I began having difficulty with concentrating and unable to focus. I was so frustrated with myself, living a life of total confusion to a point that I was in constant fear. My long-term physician prescribed the medication to decrease the ammonia elevated by my failing liver. I was at a point where I was so depressed and had no desire to wake up in the mornings. I began taking the medication in disbelief and only as a last resort. I need more room to elaborate my response."

• Pee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2019

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "I have end-stage liver and could not use the bathroom for a bowel motion unless I took a bunch of lactulose to go, and when I did, it was crazy, I pooped my brains out. But I was having a problem because it would make me a prisoner in my home. Then I tried Xifaxan and after taking it for three days, no result, fourth day, bingo, and I stayed using it, and it was more tolerable than lactose. So I feel much better. So I go to my gastroenterologist and told him it worked great, but I now have heart failure-'not good.'"

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2019

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "My HE (hepatic encephalopathy) did a 180-degree change on Xifaxan. Better mentally, peaceful, actually. My wife and my friends noticed the improvement in me after 2 weeks on 550 mg, twice a day. Still take lactulose because cirrhosis is stage 4."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2016

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "I am Stage 4 cirrhosis, diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy. Started Xifaxan about a week ago. I was concerned with a few comments from a different doc about this medication. I'm glad I found this site because I feel so much better, reader, about your experiences. I am so looking forward to feeling better!"

• NCI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2021

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "I just received my first bottle. I put Lactulose on my drug allergies list! I have alcoholic cirrhosis. Quit drinking 4 years ago. My liver and portal vein are permanently damaged, but I am thankful my condition has stabilized! I still have toxic ammonia levels. I have been in a 'mental fog' for years. Forgetful, mentally confused, poor motor skills, disorientation (doesn't help I have bad vertigo too), you name it. I didn't know what it was from. Thought I was getting dementia, I'm 63. NOW I KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT: hepatic encephalopathy or HE. I only have Medicare Advantage, and the co-pay was $840 a month! Couldn't afford it. My GI doc applied me for the Bosch Assistance Program. I was APPROVED and received my first FREE bottle of Xifaxan 550 mg today. I am SO GRATEFUL! Cannot WAIT to see if this fog lifts. Wish me luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2022

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "Life-changing. I have a stage 4 cirrhotic decompensated liver due to PBC and NASH. I was so frustrated, confused, and depressed with HE symptoms. Terrible tinnitus and headache with mood and personality changes signaled it was time to take Lactulose again for a few weeks. I could not tolerate the GI problems or the sickeningly sweet taste of Lactulose daily, so I only took it when I noticed HE symptoms. Now I can comply with the anti-HE regimen easily. No more rollercoaster of symptoms. PBC with liver failure causes miserable fatigue and muscle wasting. To combat that, my nutritionist put me on a high-protein diet. That's only possible because Xifaxan does such a great job! So now my energy levels and mood are pretty close to normal despite being extremely ill. Thanks! Way too expensive, though. I'm fortunate to have good insurance and a doctor who is a pro at arguing for her patients to get the care they deserve, but $100/day is an obscene price!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 6, 2017

"Xifaxan did not work for me. I am diagnosed with 'covert' or 'mild' hepatic encephalopathy. It's debilitating but not obvious to anyone but me...until I make a mistake or say something *random*. Worst at sunrise and sunset. Intermittent aphasia. Horrible when dehydration snowballs into IBS. As I understand it, this is a non-persistent antibiotic that eliminates bacteria that produce ammonia. The thing is, my ammonia levels are not high. I think this is why rifaximin doesn't seem to do anything for my situation. My suggestion would be to use this product when someone has the 'wet brain' sort of episodes; that is to say, when ammonia levels in the blood are very high."

• jet...
• October 27, 2016

"I live on a fixed budget, also paying for my nursing home. $892.00 for 60 pills is ridiculous. I will quit taking these pills. These pharmaceutical companies just take it to us as much as they can. We need more regulations on how much they can charge us. We have a choice to pay or not. I will let nature take its course."

• no...
• May 11, 2014

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "My husband's thought process has improved greatly. He also has more energy and less depression. He feels better."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2020

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "Have been on this for over 2 years. 100% satisfied. Have not returned to the hospital, and ammonia levels have remained doable."

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2017

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "Ridiculous price. Makes using it prohibitive. Salix should be ashamed of themselves. Lactulose worked very well and totally affordable."

• Kel...
• January 13, 2017

Xifaxan (rifaximin) "I completely agree... miracle drug. If I stop taking this for any reason, I WILL get sick. In combination with Lactulose, I feel like a new person. Thank you to the docs that figured this out!!!"

• Anonymous
• February 2, 2011

"I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. This medication helped with my hepatic encephalopathy. I just wish it was not so expensive."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2018

"Found affordable Xifaxan in a Canadian pharmacy. Med has brought mental clarity to normal and feel much better."

• CRA...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 8, 2019

"Rifaximin is very effective. Stopped my regular hospitalizations due to HE (hepatic encephalopathy)."

• Edw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2020

"I think it is helping. I’m still confused all the time. Now on Federal Disability. Difficult to remember to do things. Difficult to drive my Carrera S. But I have hope."