If you’ve been prescribed Xifaxan, you’re probably dealing with gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) or small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). To make the most out of your Xifaxan treatment and minimize potential side effects, paying attention to your diet is crucial.
In this article, we discuss the Xifaxan diet, focusing on the foods you should eat and those you should avoid while taking Xifaxan. Before we get into the diet recommendations, let’s first understand how Xifaxan works.
Understanding Xifaxan medication
Xifaxan is an antibiotic medication commonly used in treating bacterial infections. Xifaxan is an antibiotic that doesn’t get absorbed into your bloodstream. Instead, it primarily works in your gut. Its job is to target and reduce the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in your digestive tract, which, in turn, helps ease symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, and tummy discomfort associated with IBS-D and SIBO.
Foods to Avoid While Taking Xifaxan
When you’re taking Xifaxan, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your diet. While there are no strict food bans, making some smart food choices can help manage your digestive symptoms better. We’ll break down the advice for people dealing with IBS and traveler’s diarrhea.
For people suffering from IBS, you are advised to avoid:
- Avoid foods with rough fiber, like whole grains and some fruits (like apples, cherries, pears, and peaches).
- Stay away from gluten-containing grains like rye, wheat, and barley.
- Limit or avoid dairy products like milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
- Fried foods can upset your stomach, so it’s best to avoid them.
- Beans and legumes may lead to gas and discomfort, so it’s better to skip them.
- Be mindful of caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, sodas, and energy drinks.
- Highly processed foods like chips, premade frozen meals, deep-fried foods, and processed meats may not be your best choice.
- Watch out for sugar-free sweeteners found in products like sugarless candy, gum, mouthwash, and diet drinks.
- Foods like cereal, bread, and crackers with wheat might not sit well during your treatment.
- Sometimes, chocolate and alcohol can worsen your symptoms, so consider limiting or avoiding them.
- Onions and garlic can be hard to digest, so think about reducing their use.
- Some veggies, like broccoli and cauliflower, may cause gas and discomfort for some people.
For people suffering from traveler’s diarrhea, you are advised to:
- Be cautious with unpeeled or unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- Stay away from raw leafy veggies like lettuce, spinach, and cabbage.
- Make sure your meat is cooked well.
- Skip Uncooked Shellfish
Foods to Eat While Taking Xifaxan
If you’re taking Xifaxan to help with issues like IBS or SIBO, you might be wondering what foods are best for you. While there’s no strict food list, a low FODMAP diet can make things easier. FODMAP stands for certain types of carbohydrates that can be tricky for your tummy. Here’s what you can include in this diet:
- Almond milk
- Grains like rice, oats, cornmeal, and quinoa
- Veggies like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini
- Eggs and meat
- Fish
- Certain cheeses like brie, cheddar, and feta
- Fruits like oranges, grapes, bananas, blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, and pineapple
- Firm and medium tofu
Generally, aim for foods that are low in carbohydrates (carbs) and are gentle on your tummy.
Conclusion
People with IBS might have different reactions to Xifaxan and certain foods. It’s crucial to learn what works best for your body. Focus on eating foods that make you feel good and cut back on those that bother you. To help with this, consider keeping a food diary to track how different foods affect you. This way, you can find the foods that suit your needs best.
