Antibiotic Xifaxan

[Margot49]

Wasn't sure whether to post here or in the IBS forum
Too long a story to tell, you can check my past postings about this ongoing nightmare.
Have been dealing with almost daily stomach discomfort. Bloating and nausea (no vomiting) been to ER 4 times now.
GI doc has me on Omeprazole, then Generic Levsin, then Dicyclomine, which was really drying me out and I have chronic dry mouth and throat. He told me to go back to the Kevsin. I hate taking pills,mso usually try half.  Last week was having irregular heartbeats for overv2 days so finally went to the ER.  Doc there decided it was the Levsin and said to stop it. Finally got my own doctor who said to stop the Levsin and the Dicyclomine.  Great!  Now I have nothing here but Zofran which I can only take sparingly.  I wake up every morning with an upset stomach and have the feeling of my stomach being up in my throat all day.  Have had many tests done.
Had that hydrogen (?) breath test done earlier this week and it showed I do have bacterial overgrowth in the small bowel.  He prescribed 10 days, 550 mg twice a day, of the XifaxanWasn't.  Thank God he gave me samples or it would have been $1,400!!!!!!  I can't believe that!!! Nude to me and the list getting longer of drugs I can't take, am nervous about this.  I finally took the first one this morning.  Seem ok except for my stomach being up in my throat.
Am wondering if anyone has used this drug.
Also wondering if anyone has problems and maybe take something OTC that helps.  
It would be nice if this has been the cause of my intentional problems and I can get back to living.

[Margot49]

Sorry about typos, iPad has a mind of it's own.
Yep, he still feels that is the best antibiotic and wants me to try it again.  Said all the meds I am trying afen't really going to work or improve anything because the problem is still there.  I just have so many problems with drugs, scares me.  He suggested maybe trying the Align?  I don't know much about probiotics.  Asked if I could try the Dicyclomine or Levsin again but he said not to, probably what caused the arrythmia.  Any difference between the Align I keep reading about and the Culturelke?  Any side effects like stomach ache, bloating or nausea?  
All I am hoping for now is to be able to make it to a hair appt tomorrow.  I keep having to cancel one appt after another.  So depressing

[Margot49]

I see my zgI doc today and I know he is going to tell me to try the Xifaxan again.  I was so sick the next day,mdried my mouth and throat even more and had blood in my sputum.  All these drugs are causing problems.  Had to stop Dicyclomine and Kevsin due to arrhythmia. I am at the end of my rope feeling like this.

[Margot49]

Thank you.  I might try that.  The CVS pharmacist gaveme their brand and I tried it 3 times and was really sick the next day.  Not sure if it was that but afraid to try it again.

[mhsrandall]

I have never tried the drug you are now taking but you may need to replenish the good bacteria in your intestine.  Try Culturelle.  This is the ONLY probiotic that works for me.  Take 1 every 8 hours for 5 days and if it helps take 1 every day forever!