“Overt HE pushed away everything I cared about. XIFAXAN helped change that.”
— Mark | A Xifaxan Patient
DISCOVER MOREOHE RESOURCES arrow_forward_ios
FAQs
The symptoms of HE can be mental and physical and can vary in degree:
- “Covert” HE symptoms can go unnoticed, even by a doctor
- “Overt” HE symptoms are more noticeable to other people
Symptoms of overt HE can include:
Mental
- Lack of energy or interest
- Confusion
- Not knowing where you are or where you’re going
- Inappropriate behavior
- Severe personality change
Physical
- Sleepiness or change in sleep patterns
- Worsening of handwriting
- Loss of small hand movements
- Tremors or shaking of hands or arms
- Breath with a musty or sweet odor
These symptoms may also be found in older people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, but when they occur in people with liver disease, it may be HE.
If you have some form of liver disease and you start to develop any of these symptoms, it is important that you talk about them with your doctor.
The symptoms of HE can be mental and physical and can vary in degree:
- “Covert” HE symptoms can go unnoticed, even by a doctor
- “Overt” HE symptoms are more noticeable to other people
Symptoms of overt HE can include:
Mental
- Lack of energy or interest
- Confusion
- Not knowing where you are or where you’re going
- Inappropriate behavior
- Severe personality change
Physical
- Sleepiness or change in sleep patterns
- Worsening of handwriting
- Loss of small hand movements
- Tremors or shaking of hands or arms
- Breath with a musty or sweet odor
These symptoms may also be found in older people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, but when they occur in people with liver disease, it may be HE.
If you have some form of liver disease and you start to develop any of these symptoms, it is important that you talk about them with your doctor.
When HE symptoms become more severe, the condition is called “overt HE.” If you have overt HE, you may have experienced what is called an “episode” of overt HE.
During an episode, your symptoms can become more obvious. There may be a change in your behavior or personality. You may not understand what is happening, and people around you may notice that you are acting strangely.
Many episodes of overt HE end at the hospital, where you may be taken by a friend or loved one for medical attention.
If you have experienced an episode of overt HE, you also have a higher risk of having another overt HE episode in the future. But there are ways to help reduce the risk of additional overt HE episodes.
When HE symptoms become more severe, the condition is called “overt HE.” If you have overt HE, you may have experienced what is called an “episode” of overt HE.
During an episode, your symptoms can become more obvious. There may be a change in your behavior or personality. You may not understand what is happening, and people around you may notice that you are acting strangely.
Many episodes of overt HE end at the hospital, where you may be taken by a friend or loved one for medical attention.
If you have experienced an episode of overt HE, you also have a higher risk of having another overt HE episode in the future. But there are ways to help reduce the risk of additional overt HE episodes.
XIFAXAN was studied to see how it impacted adults with overt HE. In this study of 299 adults with a recent history of overt HE, those who took XIFAXAN had a lower risk of having another overt HE episode compared to those who did not take XIFAXAN. People taking XIFAXAN also had a lower risk of having an HE-related hospitalization compared to those who did not take XIFAXAN. 91% of patients in the study were also on lactulose at the same time.
Click here to look at the data.
The most common side effects reported by patients taking XIFAXAN (occurring in at least 10% of them and at a higher rate than in patients taking placebo) were:
- Peripheral edema (swelling, usually in the ankles or lower legs)
- Nausea (feeling sick to one’s stomach)
- Dizziness
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdomen)
Please see additional Important Safety Information below and click here for full Prescribing Information.
XIFAXAN was studied to see how it impacted adults with overt HE. In this study of 299 adults with a recent history of overt HE, those who took XIFAXAN had a lower risk of having another overt HE episode compared to those who did not take XIFAXAN. People taking XIFAXAN also had a lower risk of having an HE-related hospitalization compared to those who did not take XIFAXAN. 91% of patients in the study were also on lactulose at the same time.
Click here to look at the data.
The most common side effects reported by patients taking XIFAXAN (occurring in at least 10% of them and at a higher rate than in patients taking placebo) were:
- Peripheral edema (swelling, usually in the ankles or lower legs)
- Nausea (feeling sick to one’s stomach)
- Dizziness
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdomen)
Please see additional Important Safety Information below and click here for full Prescribing Information.
If you are prescribed XIFAXAN, the recommended dose is 1 tablet of XIFAXAN by mouth 2 times a day (1 in the morning and 1 at night) to help reduce the risk of additional overt HE episodes. You can take XIFAXAN with or without food.
You should keep taking XIFAXAN for as long as your doctor recommends. Continuing to take your medicine is an important part of any plan to manage overt HE.
If you are prescribed XIFAXAN, the recommended dose is 1 tablet of XIFAXAN by mouth 2 times a day (1 in the morning and 1 at night) to help reduce the risk of additional overt HE episodes. You can take XIFAXAN with or without food.
You should keep taking XIFAXAN for as long as your doctor recommends. Continuing to take your medicine is an important part of any plan to manage overt HE.
Save on your XIFAXAN prescription
The XIFAXAN Instant Copay Savings Card provides most eligible† commercially insured patients help with their monthly copays for XIFAXAN.
DOWNLOAD OR ACTIVATE NOW arrow_outward†Patient is not eligible if he/she participates in or seeks reimbursement or submits a claim for reimbursement to any federal or state healthcare program with prescription drug coverage, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Medigap, VA, DOD, TRICARE, or any similar federal or state healthcare program (each a Government Program), or where prohibited by law. Patient must be enrolled in, and must seek reimbursement from or submit a claim for reimbursement to, a commercial insurance plan. Offer excludes full cash-paying patients. Maximum benefits and other restrictions apply. Visit https://xifaxan.copaysavingsprogram.com/ or call 1-866-XIFAXAN for full eligibility criteria, terms and conditions.
HE, hepatic encephalopathy; OHE, overt hepatic encephalopathy.
See More
INDICATIONS
XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets are indicated for the reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence in adults and for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults.
XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets are indicated for the reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- XIFAXAN is not for everyone. Do not take XIFAXAN if you have a known hypersensitivity to rifaximin, any of the rifamycin antimicrobial agents, or any of the components in XIFAXAN.
- If you take antibiotics, like XIFAXAN, there is a chance you could experience diarrhea caused by an overgrowth of bacteria (C. difficile). This can cause symptoms ranging in severity from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. Contact your healthcare provider if your diarrhea does not improve or worsens.
- XIFAXAN is not for everyone. Do not take XIFAXAN if you have a known hypersensitivity to rifaximin, any of the rifamycin antimicrobial agents, or any of the components in XIFAXAN.
XIF.0209.USA.23V2.0