Study, 2008
Does rifaximin help with IBS symptoms that worsen during PMS?
In these 3 women, taking rifaximin during the premenstrual phase improved their IBS symptoms including bloating, pain, and diarrhea. The improvement continued across multiple menstrual cycles, suggesting the treatment may have lasting benefit.
What they did
This case series followed 3 women with IBS whose symptoms got worse before their period. Each woman took rifaximin 200 mg three times a day for 3 days when their premenstrual symptoms started. The doctors checked on them after their treatment.
What they found
Woman 1 (age 23, constipation-type IBS) reported improvement in pain, gas, and bloating after treatment during 2 menstrual cycles. Woman 2 (age 28, diarrhea-type IBS) had substantial improvement after treatment during 3 menstrual cycles and didn't need the medicine during the 4th cycle. Woman 3 (age 34, chronic diarrhea) had complete resolution of diarrhea after treatment during 2 menstrual cycles.
What it means for you
Rifaximin may help IBS symptoms that get worse before your period. However, this was only 3 women, so we cannot know if this works for everyone. This study had no control group to compare the results against.
3
women in the study
200 mg
dose of rifaximin, taken three times daily
3 days
length of treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome Exacerbates Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Pms-IBS)
- Authors
- Christine L. Frissora
- Journal
- The American Journal of Gastroenterology
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 3
- What was tested
- Rifaximin 200 mg three times daily for 3 days at the onset of premenstrual symptoms.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.14309/00000434-200809001-01187
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2020
Do girls with type 1 diabetes experience different PMS than other girls?
Cohort study, 2006
How should severe period pain in teenagers be treated?
Randomised trial, 2014
Does the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium reduce menstrual symptoms and migraine?
Survey study, 2011
What premenstrual symptoms do women experience around the world and how much do they affect daily life?
Survey study, 1994
How many different ways do researchers measure PMS in clinical trials?
Study, 2026
What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?