Details for Patent: 7,605,240

Title:	Methods of treating diarrhea and bloating caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Abstract:	Disclosed is a method of diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus, or Crohn's disease, which involves detecting the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in a human subject having at least one symptom associated with a suspected diagnosis of any of those diagnostic categories. Also disclosed is a method of treating these disorders, and other disorders caused by SIBO, that involves at least partially eradicating a SIBO condition in the human subject. The method includes administration of anti-microbial or probiotic agents, or normalizing intestinal motility by employing a prokinetic agent. The method improves symptoms, including hyperalgesia related to SIBO and disorders caused by SIBO. Also disclosed is a kit for the diagnosis or treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autoimmune diseases, or Crohn's disease.
Inventor(s):	Lin; Henry C. (Albuquerque, NM), Pimentel; Mark (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee:	Cedara-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Filing Date:	Aug 14, 2007
Application Number:	11/838,672
Claims:	1. A method of treating bloating in a subject, comprising: providing a composition comprising rifaximin; and administering the composition to the subject in an amount sufficient to at least partially eradicate small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in the subject, wherein the subject has small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and whereby the bloating is treated. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is administered orally. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a unitized amount of rifaximin. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rifaximin is dehydrated rifaximin. 5. The method of claim 1, where in the rifaximin is lyophilized rifaximin. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering results in complete eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering results in greater than 90% improvement in bloating. 8. A method of treating bloating in a subject suffering from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, comprising administering rifaximin to the subject in an amount sufficient to at least partially eradicate the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rifaximin is administered orally. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition comprises a unitized amount of rifaximin. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the rifaximin is dehydrated rifaximin. 12. The method of claim 8, where in the rifaximin is lyophilized rifaximin. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the administering results in complete eradication of the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the administering results in greater than 90% improvement in bloating.