rifaximin + N-acetylcysteine

Rifaximin + N-acetylcysteine is an investigational oral combination therapy consisting of the minimally absorbed antibiotic rifaximin and the mucolytic/antioxidant agent N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Rifaximin acts locally in the gastrointestinal tract to reduce bacterial load and is FDA-approved for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) as well as traveler's diarrhea. However, symptom recurrence after treatment is common, possibly due to bacteria protected within the viscous intestinal mucus layer. NAC is a clinically approved mucolytic that can disrupt disulfide bonds in mucus glycoproteins, potentially making bacteria more accessible to antibiotics like rifaximin. The combination aims to improve clinical outcomes in IBS-D by enhancing antibiotic access to mucosal bacteria and reducing symptom relapse. This combination has also been explored for other gastrointestinal disorders but remains investigational[1][2][4].

Other names

rifaximin and N-acetylcysteinerifaximin plus NACrifaximin + NAC