Azithromycin and possible side effects

[Nanny1086]

Hi , I’ve recently been put on a long term antibiotic Azithromycin, taking one tablet Monday,Wednesday and Friday , I’ve only been on it 3weeks but I’ve had increased cough and mucus ,and a general feeling of chest flutters and shallow breathing , I’d like to know if anyone else has been prescribed Azithromycin and if you’ve had any side effects ,I look forward to your reply’s

[Nottobad]

I have COPD as well as asthma. And have been on Azithromycin for 3 years now. With no side effects. I would ask your doctor what best thing to do is .

[Nanny1086 in reply to Nottobad]

Hi nottobad , thanks for a quick reply , I’ve just had a nasty few minutes when coughing ,,,,couldn’t catch a breath felt like I was in a spasm , I’m not usually like this and I’m thinking of stopping it for a week ( only had 9 tablets so far) just to see if it is the Azithromycin that’s making me like this ,or I’m starting an infection ? ,I’ll get back to you ,

[HannahBenson]

Hi Nanny1086...I am on Zithromax everyday now for MAI which is a non-tubercular bacterial disease...have been on 250 mg. everyday for the last 5 months along with other medications for this bacteria. I have gone on and off this medication over the last 20 years and at one time was put on maintenance dosage of three times a week like you...I did that for about 4 years and then stopped ...did not get sick again for quite a long time...at least 5 years but since I have bronchiectasis and asthma...I need to keep the bacteria in my lungs down as I was getting sick all the time so now I am on many medications to do that and when I am finished...will go back on Zithromax 3Xa week. I can only speak for myself, but I don't have any problems with it as long as I take a daily acid blocker like Prilosec. When I have a bacteria in my lungs that is not being treated...I start to have the coughing and symptoms like you describe but I don't now as I am being treated for asthma with a monthly injection and am treating the lung infection with daily antibiotics. I always think it is a good idea to have the mucus from the coughing tested to see what is growing so a proper antibiotic can be prescribed. I think Zithromax is a great way to give yourself some protection and I have not had any side effects. Good luck...Hannah

[Nanny1086 in reply to HannahBenson]

Hi Hannah, Thankyou for your reply , I to am asthmatic with bronchiectasis and signs of emphasyma, I’m on 3 inhalers ventalin ,Seratide,And Respimat,aswell as Montelukast tablet daily for my asthma , and I also take an antihistamine daily ,lately I’ve used my nebuliser morning and night , and like you when I’m well I don’t have mucus at all , but since April this year I’ve been ill /very weak , I had pneumonia in April and was in hospital 6days which took me weeks to get strong ,then in August I had influenza again in hospital as also my kidneys stopped working due to dehydration. And basically since then I just haven’t felt like ME , 😒 I’m aged 74 now , and usually I bounce back from an infection or flare ups,, and I do Pulmary rehabilitation to get me started ( which I’m trying again now ) ,during the summer due to being so weak and lethargic I had a few falls ,,,and have now been provided with a walking stick ( much to my embarrassment) , I’m pleased that the medication is working for you and long may that be the case ,,,,, but ,,,,I think I’ll not t are the tablet next week ,,,,( I take it Monday Wednesday and Friday) and see how I am without it ,,,then If I’m ok I’ll start it again then I’ll know . But I’ll let you know how I am in a few days time , take care and keep well ,

[HannahBenson in reply to Nanny1086]

Dear Nanny1086....I am just your age and have been on the same health pattern as you...in and out of hospital...one illness after another and finally had to pinpoint what infection was causing all of this. First, my asthma turned out to be eosinophilic asthma and I started to take mepolizumab (Nucala) injections about 4 months ago which got my asthma under control but before that...I started taking a series of antibiotics daily to get my MAI bacterial infection under control..I was using my neb 3xaday...and now...I use my neb. once a day and my symbicort twice a day...no more Prednisone and all the bad side effects. For me, the answers were all found in sputum tests and blood tests...and each thing was treated separately...it took me a long time to get my energy back as prednisone gives you false energy...and when you stop...your own cortisol has to take over...it is not easy but it can be done. There is no cure for any of these things, (asthma, bronchiectasis, MAI...but they can all be brought back under control. Keep me posted and I will be rooting for you and that you will be able to find out what is going on in your lungs and what is worsening your breathing ...I hope it can be brought under control by the Zithromax...but remember...you have to give it time to work and also, at our age...it takes longer to get strength and stamina back but it can be done. Good luck and I will be thinking of you. Best...Hannah

[Nanny1086 in reply to HannahBenson]

Thankyou Hannah , it seems youve managed to finally get your health and medication sorted out to what is good for you , I’m really pleased for you ,

I’ve been reading my diary this morning , and I was due to have a small operation in January this year and I had my blood pressure taken at the hospital and the doctor said it was too risky as my BP was really low , I was already on losartan for many years , I saw my gp who added Doxyzozene to the losartan,,, ,,, i then had my op in February,,,, which was dreadful experience no anaesthetic, 🙇🏼‍♀️😩. Anyway according to my diary the weakness started around that time , in as much as some weeks later I went to Tesco with my hubby and and after a short while after me virtually leaning on the trolley we abandoned the shopping and I came home , things have improved in that respect ,,,,but I’ve tried to do P.R. twice now and I’m not getting much improvement,,,, before all this I was going to the gym twice a week and managing 1 klm on treadmill in 15 minutes and 5 klm on the bike and 1000 meters on the rower plus a couple of the weights machines ,, that now is absolutely impossible at the moment,

Aswell as all my inhalers and the above BP meds I take levofloxacine for underactive thyroid , and Montelukast for my asthma ,,and an antihistamine, and sometimes carbosystene , all of which I’ve been on for many years ,,, I do feel that how I’m feeling NOW is down to medication,,,,so it could be the doxyzozene ,,,,or the latest Azithromycin,,,, as I’ve felt poorly for so long (February) i think it’s more likely to be the BP meds ,,,,, so I think I’ll try leaving that one off for a couple of days and see my GP this week with what I think . Apologies for the long post 😂 have a good weekend ,xx🎈🎈

[HannahBenson in reply to Nanny1086]

Hi Nana1086...it sounds like you have really been through a lot this year. I am so sorry you have had to suffer so much. My husband has high blood pressure and takes Losartan....he was having dizziness so they needed to lower the dosage as he was bringing his blood pressure too low. I am curious why your doctor would give you Doxyzozene when you are already suffering from low blood pressure as that lowers it even more. You can definitely get dizziness and weakness from low blood pressure so this may be contributing to it. I have also taken Levofloacine for pneumonia as well as severe sinus infections but never heard of this for underactive Thyroid. This is a powerful antibiotic and I have been told that it is easy to build up an immunity to this drug so to use it sparingly and only when you have a really bad bronchitis, pneumonia or sinus infection. It sounds like you were in pretty good shape before all of the antibiotics and please go over these with your GP when you see him or her. I think you need to really get on the right meds and you need to read as much about the medications as you can so you will know what may be contributing to your weakness and dizziness. Don't forget...if you could exercise like this before...you can exercise like this again. write down all meds you take and the dosage plus your symptoms....take with you to GP. Good luck...you will get better! Hannah

[Nanny1086 in reply to HannahBenson]

Ooops hi again ,,, no it’s losartan and then February he added Doxazosin to treat my high blood BP ,,, sorry I was confused ,,, of course levofloxacin is a strong antibiotic I know because it’s on my do not prescribe notes as it gives me tendinitis,,, 🙇🏼‍♀️ And it’s thyroxine I take for my underactive thyroid , and Thankyou for the great advise and support, I will indeed start making a list of all my meds ,and the possible side effects they can cause ,,, and also the symptoms I’m having ,,that are starting to beat me , I’ll get back to you in a couple of days Hannah , much love Georgina xx🎈🎈

[HannahBenson in reply to Nanny1086]

Good luck with everything Gerogina...keep me posted