Aemcolo

Aemcolo is a prescription medication used for the treatment of adults with travelers' diarrhea caused by certain types of bacteria called E. coli, which is not complicated by a fever or blood in the stool.

Aemcolo belongs to a group of drugs called rifamycin antibiotics. Aemcolo works by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause diarrhea.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken twice daily for 3 days. Take with or without food and a full glass of water or other liquids. Do not take with alcohol. Do not chew, divide, or break Aemcolo tablets. Swallow tablets whole.

Common side effects include constipation and headache.

Aemcolo is a prescription medication used for the treatment of adults with travelers' diarrhea caused by certain types of bacteria called E. coli, which is not complicated by a fever or blood in the stool.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• The condition being treated
• Other medical conditions you have
• How you respond to this medication

The recommended dose of Aemcolo (rifamycin) for the treatment of travelers’ diarrhea caused by certain non-invasive strains of E. coli in adults is 388 mg (two tablets) twice daily for three days.

Serious side effects have been reported with Aemcolo including:

• Worsening diarrhea with fever and/or bloody stool. Tell your healthcare provider right away if have or develop fever or bloody stool.

• Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) associated diarrhea. Some antibiotics can kill the “good” bacteria in the colon leading to a growth of C. difficile bacteria. This “bad” bacterium can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems, and these problems may even occur 2 months after the last dose. Extra caution for this side effect is advised in the elderly population. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any or all of the following symptoms:

  • Watery diarrhea (at least three bowel movements per day for two or more days)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain or tenderness
  • Nausea
  • Fever

• Development of drug-resistant bacteria. Aemcolo is only effective for treatment of infection caused by certain bacteria. Talk to your doctor if you symptoms do not improve.

Do not take Aemcolo if you:

• Are allergic to Aemcolo or to any of its ingredients

• Are allergic to any rifamycin class antibiotics like rifaximin

Serious side effects have been reported with  Aemcolo. See the “Aemcolo Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Aemcolo include the following:

• Constipation

• Headache

This is not a complete list of Aemcolo side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

In certain animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child. Talk to your doctor about your potential risks of using Aemcolo.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Aemcolo crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Aemcolo.