Re: Memory problems and seizures

[Guest guest]

Arne, thank you SO much. The link you sent is extremely helpful in

discussing how rifaximin (Xifaxan) works to treat hepatic

encephalopathy. No wonder my GI doctor prescribed it. I had my sleep-

deprived EEG Friday morning and if that EEG (like my two previous

regular EEGs) shows no evidence of seizures, I might be able to

legally resume driving once my brain fog/coma-like problem my GI says

is caused by my liver disease improves and my new neurologist I see

on Monday agrees.

My brain fog has been so bad I could not remember when I had my last

EEG. Well, it was less than two months ago on August 16. I also could

not remember what it entailed (how they marked my scalp and attached

the electrodes). My daughter phoned after this EEG to see how I was

doing and said my brain fog has been going on for a while. She

reminded me how I baked a pie for Thanksgiving dinner last year and

then was completely surprised when it showed up in the convection

oven on Thanksgiving day.

My husband Jim told me I signed a bunch of release forms at the ER

two weeks ago and how he kept telling the people there not to give me

any forms to sign because I did not know what I was signing but they

insisted I was aware. Well, I don't remember being there at all

(rushed there by ambulance), never mind signing any forms.

BTW, Xifaxan is quite expensive, so that must be why my GI asked if

we have a good drug plan (yes). He marked that substitution is

permitted, which should make my insurance company happier.

Thanks again, Arne and others. Things are looking up here.

Margie

> Good to hear from you Margie (although not under these

> circumstances!).

>

> About Rifaximin - I suspect they are using it to treat the memory

> problems (possibly hepatic encelopathy):

>

> See http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3185.htm, for example

>

> " Rifaximin (Xifaxan, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc, ville, NC),

> a nonabsorbable derivative of rifampin, has been used in Europe for

> 18 years for a wide variety of gastrointestinal indications. It has

> also been used in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. In 2004,

> the drug received approval by the Food and Drug Administration

> (FDA) in the United States for the treatment of travelers'

> diarrhea. In 2005, it received orphan drug status as a treatment

> for hepatic encephalopathy. "

>

> Hang in there!

>

>

> Arne

> ---- Margaret son wrote:

>

> =============

>

> ... " Rifaximin has been shown to be active against the following

> pathogen

> in clinical studies of infectious diarrhea as described in the

> INDICATIONS AND USAGE section: Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic and

> enteroaggregative strains). " ...

>

> Margie in MO

> PSC DX 3/99 through ERCP

>

>

[Guest guest]

Barb, thanks for the following reply:Ken is on Xifaxan, because his ammonia level is elevated. It was 137this week. His doctor tried the other pill (sorry can't remember thename right now,) but it didn't work at all. There are several studiesthat this medicine works very well for HE. So far (3 weeks) it hasn't helped Ken, so he is going to have to take Lactuloseat some point, but your doctor may have to think that over, if yourhaving seizures. Good luck today, please let us know what they findout. After reading the info Arne posted, I am very encouraged. I might not be having seizures at all. What I probably have is HE and hepatic coma (in addition to moderate fatigue, dry skin, and insomnia/sleep cycle disturbance). I will get the results from the sleep-deprived EEG when I see a neurologist on Monday. He is supposed to be excellent in treating seizures/epilepsy. My GI is sending him info about my PSC in advance. I am also seeing my internist next Thursday. I'll keep everyone posted. I hope the Xifaxan starts helping Ken.Margie in MOPSC DX 3/99

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks Carolyn. I'd like you to email it to me. It's almost 4:30AM

> and I have not been to bed yet.

==============

OK Margie, I've just emailed it to you. Anybody else need a copy?

Regards,

Carolyn B. in SC

[Guest guest]

Arne, I am behind on reading messages from the group but wanted you

and everyone else to know I am thrilled by how much the Xifaxan

(Rifaximin) has helped my memory/confusion problem. After I took it

for a couple of weeks and saw how it helped my hepatic encephalopathy

(brain fog), I started taking Keppra for the seizures. Since taking

the Keppra, I have not had any more seizures but am still prohibited

by MO law from driving for 6 months.

Margie in MO

PSC DX 3/99

the

> Good to hear from you Margie (although not under these

> circumstances!).

>

> About Rifaximin - I suspect they are using it to treat the memory

> problems (possibly hepatic encelopathy):

>

> See http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3185.htm, for example

>

> " Rifaximin (Xifaxan, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc, ville, NC), a

> nonabsorbable derivative of rifampin, has been used in Europe for 18

> years for a wide variety of gastrointestinal indications. It has

> also been used in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. In 2004,

> the drug received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

> in the United States for the treatment of travelers' diarrhea. In

> 2005, it received orphan drug status as a treatment for hepatic

> encephalopathy. "

>

> Hang in there!

>

>

> Arne

>