About 40 percent of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients that used Rifimax in this test saw a major improvement in symptoms. The Rifimax is taken for about 10 days, but the effects of the antibiotic can last up to a year. After that time the patient would take another 10 day dose.

A simple breath test on IBS sufferers usually shows an overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach. Doctors are now trying to work on the theory that it is this overgrowth of bacteria which causes IBS. Helping to prove this theory is the improvement in symptoms seen in patients after taking the 10 day dose of Rifimax. What also helps is that Italy has been using Rifimax for over 15 years to successfully treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

A longer study is still needed in the United States to verify the results and look into long term effects of this treatment. This certainly is hopeful news to anyone out there suffering the effects of IBS. There are 20% of Americans that can attest to the agony of living with chronic stomach cramps, gas and diarrhea. IBS is the second leading cause for missed work days in our country. Hopefully Rifimax will prove to be a successful treatment.

But there must be some sort of diet that can be followed! There is. What any IBS patient needs to be aware of is what effect certain foods have on the gut in general. There are foods that are known to cause diarrhea and cramping such as foods high in fat, alcohol, coffee (even decaf), fried foods, caffeine. These should be avoided as much as possible.

Foods that cause gas can also reek havoc with IBS. Some of these foods are beans, cabbage, legumes, broccoli, cauliflower, raisins, onions, brussell sprouts, even bagels. Over-eating can also cause gaseousness which is a problem for IBS sufferers as Irritable Bowel Syndrome is thought to cause retention of gas and bloating.

The best advice for obtaining a diet that agrees with IBS is to seek the counseling of a professional. A doctor could come up with a good diet by taking a diet history and thoroughly questioning you on your symptoms after eating certain foods. A registered dietician would be another choice. They would be able to assess your individual circumstances and then create a diet that is specific to your symptoms and your needs.

Basically there is a lot of work going into finding a diet that works with your IBS. As stated above this may come easier with the help of a professional. Good luck with that.