Claims for Patent: 7,718,608

Summary for Patent: 7,718,608

Title:	Methods of treating a subject suffering from irritable bowel syndrome
Abstract:	Disclosed are methods of treating a subject suffering from irritable bowel syndrome which involves administering rifaximin to the subject and reducing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Also disclosed are methods of improving the symptoms in a subject caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
Inventor(s):	Lin; Henry C (Manhattan Beach, CA), Pimentel; Mark (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee:	Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number:	12/234,502
Patent Claims:	1. A method of treating a subject suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, comprising administering rifaximin to the subject, wherein said administration reduces the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is administered orally. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is administered in a unitized amount. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is dehydrated rifaximin. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is lyophilized rifaximin. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering reduces the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome based on visual analog scores. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering reduces extraintestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the extraintestinal symptoms include joint pain and fatigue. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering results in at least partial eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering results in complete eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering comprises swallowing the rifaximin. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is administered at room temperature. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is administered at a refrigerated temperature. 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering an intestinal lavage or enema. 15. A method of improving the symptoms of a subject suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, comprising administering rifaximin to the subject, wherein said administration improves the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the rifaximin is administered orally. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the rifaximin is administered in a unitized amount. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the rifaximin is dehydrated rifaximin. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the rifaximin is lyophilized rifaximin. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the improvement of irritable bowel syndrome is based on visual analog scores. 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the improvement further comprises improvement of extraintestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the extraintestinal symptoms include joint pain and fatigue. 23. The method of claim 15, wherein the administering results in at least partial eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 24. The method of claim 15, wherein the administering results in complete eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 25. The method of claim 15, wherein the improvement in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is greater than 90%. 26. The method of claim 15, wherein the administration of rifaximin comprises swallowing the rifaximin. 27. The method of claim 15, wherein the rifaximin is administered at room temperature. 28. The method of claim 15, wherein the rifaximin is administered at a refrigerated temperature. 29. The method of claim 15, further comprising administering an intestinal lavage or enema. 30. A method of treating a subject suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, comprising: providing a therapeutic regime that includes an antimicrobial agent, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises rifaximin; and administering the therapeutic regime to the subject to improve symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the therapeutic regime is administered orally. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the therapeutic regime is administered in a unitized amount. 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the rifaximin is dehydrated rifaximin. 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the rifaximin is lyophilized rifaximin. 35. The method of claim 30, wherein the therapeutic regime improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome based on visual analog scores. 36. The method of claim 30, wherein the improvement of symptoms further comprises improvement of extraintestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the extraintestinal symptoms include joint pain and fatigue. 38. The method of claim 30, wherein the administering results in at least partial eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 39. The method of claim 30, wherein the administering results in complete eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 40. The method of claim 30, wherein the improvement of symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome is greater than 90%. 41. The method of claim 30, wherein the administration of the therapeutic regime comprises swallowing the rifaximin. 42. The method of claim 30, wherein the therapeutic regime is administered at room temperature. 43. The method of claim 30, wherein the therapeutic regime is administered at a refrigerated temperature. 44. The method of claim 30, further comprising administering an intestinal lavage or enema.