Refkain 550 Tablet

Reviewed By Dr. Rajeev Sharma, MBA, MBBS

Last updated on 22 Feb 2026 | 06:32 PM (IST)

Refkain 550 Tablet is an antibiotic that treats hepatic encephalopathy, a condition in which the liver fails to remove harmful toxins from the blood, leading to brain damage. It works by killing and stopping the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines.

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Refkain 550 Tablet

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₹467

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Same composition

Rifaford 550mg Tablet

strip of 10 tablets

Rifaximin (550mg)

by Leeford Healthcare Ltd

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General Information

Contains

Rifaximin (550mg)

Marketer

Frokeen Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd

Storage

Store below 30°C

The content is shown in English

Product introduction

This medicine can be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time, each day. It should be used in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. Take it at the same time each day to get the most benefit and you should keep on taking this medicine for as long as you are prescribed. Stopping it early may make the infection to come back and harder to treat.

Some people may develop side effects like headache, dizziness, nausea, rashes, joint pain, and depression. These side effects are usually temporary and go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you or will not go away. Your urine may become reddish in color due to this medicine. But, it is normal and harmless.

Before starting treatment with this medicine, you should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffering from any liver, kidney or heart problems or if you are allergic to any medicine.

Uses of Refkain Tablet

Treatment of Infectious diarrhea

Benefits of Refkain Tablet

Treatment of Infectious diarrhea
Infectious diarrhea is a condition characterized by the sudden onset of loose or watery stools caused by harmful microorganisms in the digestive system. Refkain 550 Tablet helps treat infectious diarrhea by targeting and stopping the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines. This medicine interferes with the bacteria's ability to make important proteins they need to survive and multiply. This helps to get rid of the bad bacteria causing the infection, which in turn reduces the diarrhea and helps you feel better.

Side effects of Refkain Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Refkain

Dizziness
Nausea
Peripheral edema
Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity)
Depression
Joint pain
Rash
Muscle pain
Headache
Breathing problems
Stomach pain
Diarrhea

How to use Refkain Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Refkain 550 Tablet may be taken with or without food.

How Refkain Tablet works

Refkain 550 Tablet is an antibiotic. It works by killing the ammonia-producing bacteria in the digestive tract. This treats your infection and relieves symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy (agitation, confusion, muscle problems). This also helps reduce the recurrence of episodes of hepatic encephalopathy.

All substitutes for Refkain 550 Tablet

For information purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicine.

Quick tips

Refkain 550 Tablet reduces the risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence in patients with liver disease.
It may cause reddish discoloration of urine. This is normal and harmless.
Stop taking Refkain 550 Tablet and inform your doctor if you have severe diarrhea during or after using Refkain 550 Tablet.
Finish the full course of the medication, even if you feel better.

Safety advice

Alcohol

UNSAFE

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine. Refkain 550 Tablet may cause excessive drowsiness when taken with alcohol.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Refkain 550 Tablet is not recommended during pregnancy as there is positive evidence of fetal risk based on animal studies. However, it may still be prescribed by a doctor in situations where the benefits outweigh the risks.

Breast feeding

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Information regarding the use of Refkain 550 Tablet during breastfeeding is not available. Please consult your doctor.

Driving

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether Refkain 550 Tablet alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react. Please consult your doctor.

Kidney

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

There is limited data available on the use of Refkain 550 Tablet in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

CAUTION

Refkain 550 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Dose adjustment may be needed.

Interaction with drugs

Taking Refkain with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

Moderate

Amiodarone (Oral Route)

Watch out for symptoms of Rifaximin side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, swelling or fatigue and consult your doctor if you experience them. They may adjust the doses as per the observations. Amiodarone may raise blood levels of Rifaximin.

Moderate

Amiodarone (Injection Route)

Moderate

Azithromycin (Oral Route)

Moderate

Azithromycin (Injection Route)

Moderate

Azithromycin (Oral Route)

Frequently asked questions

Should I take Refkain 550 Tablet with food?

Yes, Refkain 550 Tablet can be taken orally with or without food with a glass of water. Take it as prescribed by your doctor for the exact period of time.

What does Refkain 550 Tablet do for the liver?

In liver disease, there is an increased growth of bacteria in the intestine which increases the load of toxins travelling through the body. This further increases the possibility of toxins reaching the brain which can cause abnormal brain function. Refkain 550 Tablet slows down the growth of bacteria in the gut, decreasing the symptoms in cases of liver disease.

Can Refkain 550 Tablet cause weight gain?

Usually Refkain 550 Tablet does not cause weight gain. However, in case you feel there is an increase in weight, you should consult your doctor to determine the reason of weight gain.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Macrolactams

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

GASTRO INTESTINAL

Action Class

RNA polymerase inhibitors- Rifamycins

Related lab tests

Culture Stool

Stool Examination R/M

References

Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 1215-16.
Rifaximin [Package Insert]. Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; 2015. [Accessed 05 Aug. 2023] (online) Available from:
CiplaMed. Rifaximin [Prescribing Information]. [Accessed 05 Aug. 2023] (online) Available from:
Rifaximin. Uxbridge, UK: Norgine Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; 2025 [Accessed 16 Feb. 2026] (online). Available from:

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Disclaimer

Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

Marketer details

Name: Frokeen Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
Address: MBLDG, srinand Nagar,near Vejalpur makarba, Ahemdabad,Gujarat ,

Vendor Details

Country of origin: India

Lab tests offered by us

Why we need a prescription?

Provide right medicines

Prescriptions are complex documents. We proof read and recheck at various steps to provide you the right medication in the correct form and dose

In accordance with the law

Most medicines cannot be sold without a valid prescription, as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945

Refkain 550 Tablet

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General Information

Contains

Marketer

Storage

Product introduction

Uses of Refkain Tablet

Benefits of Refkain Tablet

Side effects of Refkain Tablet

How to use Refkain Tablet

How Refkain Tablet works

All substitutes for Refkain 550 Tablet

Rexigut 550mg Tablet

Rifaford 550mg Tablet

Rifagut 550 Tablet

Rcifax 550 Tablet

Rixmin 550 Tablet

Quick tips

Safety advice

Alcohol

Pregnancy

Breast feeding

Driving

Kidney

Liver

Interaction with drugs

Amiodarone (Oral Route)

Amiodarone (Injection Route)

Azithromycin (Oral Route)

Azithromycin (Injection Route)

Azithromycin (Oral Route)

Frequently asked questions

Should I take Refkain 550 Tablet with food?

What does Refkain 550 Tablet do for the liver?

Can Refkain 550 Tablet cause weight gain?

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

Action Class

Related lab tests

Culture Stool

Stool Examination R/M

References

Want to know more

Have issue with the content

Disclaimer

Marketer details

Vendor Details

Lab tests offered by us

Related/Popular tests