• Travelers' diarrhea due to noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity to rifamycin or other rifamycins
• Diarrhea with fever or bloody stools
• Diarrhea caused by other infectious agents.

Use Cautiously in:

• OB: Use only if potential maternal benefit justifies potential fetal risk
• Lactation: Use while breastfeeding only if potential maternal benefit justifies potential risk to infant
• Pedi: Safety and effectiveness not established.

GI: CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE-ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA (CDAD), constipation, dyspepsia.

Neuro: headache.

Drug-Drug:

• None reported.

• Delayed-release tablets: 194 mg;

• PO (Adults): 388 mg twice daily for 3 days.

Aemcolo

• Inhibits bacterial synthesis by binding to bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

• Decreased severity of travelers' diarrhea.

Spectrum:

• Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic and enteroaggregative strains).

Therapeutic Classification: anti-infectives

Pharmacologic Classification: rifamycins

Absorption: Poorly absorbed (<0.1%), action is primarily in GI tract.

Distribution: Concentrated in gut.

Metabolism/Excretion: Primarily excreted in feces (86%).

Half-life: Unknown.

(plasma concentrations)

• Instruct patient to take rifamycin as directed.
• Advise patient to avoid use of alcohol during therapy.
• Advise patient to discontinue rifamycin if diarrhea persists more than 48 hr or worsens and to seek medical treatment for fever and/or or blood in the stools, and not to treat with antidiarrheals without consulting health care professional.
• Advise females of reproductive potential to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding.

RIF-a-MYE-sin