Rifaximin is expensive. My doctor at the time ordered it for me. While I was on it, I started to feel much better. Once off it in about 2 weeks, my symptoms returned. Again, these meds treat the SYMPTOMS, not the CAUSE. Antibiotics are not good for our digestive tract as they kill both the good and bad bacteria. (Don't misunderstand me - antibiotics have their place when it is in the right application.) You need the good bacteria and need it in the right place in the digestive tract. As it was explained to me, the bacteria feed on sugars. We have different bacteria in the upper digestive tract and lower digestive tract. When the upper digestive tract is weakened as in leaky gut, the lower digestive tract bacteria migrate to the upper digestive tract causing symptoms of gas, bloating, not digesting our food well, loosing weight, etc. The goal is to build the upper digestive tract mucous lining and get the bacteria that don't belong there back down to the lower digestive tract where they belong.
I cannot emphasize enough the need to find the CAUSE of your symptoms and NOT treat the SYMPTOMS or the symptoms return.