What is flonorm?
Flonorm® is the trade name of rifaximin, a drug marketed byALFASIGMA MÉXICO, S.A. de C.V., formerly called Alfa Wassermann(1) laboratory. Rifaximin is aderivative of another antibiotic commonly used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, rifampicin.
Note: Rifaximin acts on thebeta subunit of the bacterial enzyme RNA polymerase, which is responsible for the replication of the bacteria’s RNA. In other words, it inhibits the multiplication of the microorganism.
Notably, flonorm®comes in 200mg, 400 mg and 550 mg tablet forms. The dose and duration of treatment will depend on the infection being treated.
What is flonorm for?
Flonorm® is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, capable of infecting the small and large intestine. Next, we will mention its most frequent applications:
1. Irritable bowel syndrome
The anti-inflammatory capacities and normalization of the intestinal flora of flonorm® make it useful in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), regardless of the predominant symptom ( diarrhea , constipation or mixed).
Important: A study published in the journal of the Peruvian Society of Internal Medicine achieved complete remission of abdominal pain in 94.5% at the end of treatment , again demonstrating the efficacy of flonorm®. (two)
2. Acute diverticulitis
Flonorm® has been used in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis, mainly due to its eubiotic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect .
To highlight: A study was published in the Gastroenterology Reviewmagazinewhere, over three months, patients with diverticular disease of the colon were treated with rifaximin. The results showed thatalmost two thirds of the participants experienced a significant reduction in symptoms . (3)
3. Intestinal infections
Flonorm® can treat acute gastroenteritis, the infamous traveler’s diarrhea, enterocolitis, bacterial overgrowth, as well as prophylaxis to avoid infectious complications in general surgery or post-surgical infection. In traveler’s diarrhea, the dose is one 200 mg tablet every 8 hours for three days.
You should know: Some studies have shown that antibiotics with poor intestinal absorption, such as flonorm® or neomycin, are useful against enteropathogens sensitive to this line of drugs , especially in adults. ( 4)
4. Secondary hyperammonemia and liver failure
Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious complication of cirrhosis , with neuropsychiatric changes caused by high concentrations of ammonia (NH 3 ) in the central nervous system .
Note:Different articles have compared the efficacy of rifaximin alfa (active principle of flonorm®), with that of lactulose or other antibiotics. Flonorm® consistentlydecreases the risk of significant neurological impairment . (5)
flonorm side effects
Due to the poor absorption of the product, side effects are very infrequent and tend to be gastrointestinal (6)tag. Next, we will mention the most frequent:
- dyspepsia.
- Abdominal pain.
- Flatulence.
- Threw up.
- Urticaria.
Important: In the event of any of the aforementioned side effects, it is necessary to discontinue the use of flonorm® and seek medical attention.
Contraindications of flonorm
Despite its usefulness, there are certain conditions in which the prescription of flonorm® should be avoided, such asThe following:
- Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Gastrointestinal infections caused by Campylobacter jejuni.
You should know: Before starting treatment with flonorm®, it is advisable to inform the doctor about the health conditions that are suffered, thus avoiding unwanted reactions and to receive more information on the proper use of the drug.
Key Findings
- Flonorm® is a medication used to treat gastrointestinal infections , diverticular disease, IBS, and cirrhotic encephalopathy.
- Flonorm® comes in 200 mg, 400 mg and 550 mg tablets, with oral route of administration.
- The adverse effects of flonorm® are infrequent and those of a gastrointestinal nature predominant .
- Before starting a treatment with flonorm®, you need to be aware of the contraindications to avoid unwanted reactions.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.