My doctor mentioned these to me the other day, but did not give me any details?

Can someone tell me about these medicines and their use to treat pouchitis?

Joe - both are antibiotics. I've taken xifaxin as a maintenance drug (2@ 3x per day) with overall fairly good results. I've tried to take Tindamax on two occassion and both times I showed increased pouchitis symptoms. Although this seems rare, my Dr. (Shen) told me it does occassional make things worse.

i've been on xifaxan for a while - it's new in the US but apparently it's been used in europe for a some time. i find it really helps! the difference between flagyl (i think that's what it's called) and xifaxan is that xifaxan stays in the gut more and doesn't make you nauseous. good luck!

Hi Buckeye,

I am on Xifaxan currently. I take it in rotation with cipro and flagyl. When you take antibiotics to treat pouchitis you have to rotate periodically in cycles or your body builds up a resistance. Basically you stay a few steps ahead of the pouchitis and keep it in check. I find Xifaxin works well, as does cipro and flagyl, but they lose their effectiveness and when they do, you rotate.

As the prior poster mentioned Xifaxin is not absorbed into the bloodstream and stays and works in your intestines, thus rendering side effects unlikely.

Good luck.