Azithromycin - specialist wants me to go on a daily low dose, anyone done this? Also what to expect with biologic injections?

[Ladypig8]

I was a bit unnerved when she suggested a daily antibiotic long term - how have you found it? Looks like I’m going to be put on biologics jabs in a couple of months also, after CT scan and lung function test. On a week of prednisolone at the moment which is probably making me freak out a bit about all these drugs more than normal. Happy to take anything that makes my asthma better but it’s hitting me that I’m only early 40w and on so much medication 🫣 and probably about to go on more. Hopefully with my asthma being better managed I’ll not feel like I’m in my 90s fingers crossed 🤞. Any advice about these drugs would be great to hear. So hate prednisolone side effects - hopefully biologics will mean I will potentially never have to take them again. Thanks for any advice.

[Poobah]

I have non-eosinophilic asthma and Prednisolone really doesn't help when my asthma flares up, but Azithromycin is very effective for me. So far I've only had 16 week courses of low dose Azithromycin, one dose 3 times a week, but I believe there are other forum members who are on Azithromycin full time (one dose 3 times a week).

I was lucky enough to be a volunteer for a research project at my Respiratory Clinic and that led to my Azithromycin treatment, once my involvement in the project was over. I don't experience any side effects and it addresses the inflammation and mucus over production.

This article explains some of the ongoing research on Azithromycin and its affect on lung function and health. oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/oxford...

I know that combining Azithromycin and biologics is an option when treating severe asthma. If you're concerned about this level of treatment, you could discuss a step up plan, in that you start on one additional treatment and only progress to both if the first doesn't work effectively.

[Ladypig8 in reply to Poobah]

Thanks so much for this, I will look into all this, sounds like there’s lots of options, thanks!

[Danielmystar]

Hi ive been on 250 dose since 20.18 I take them every day due to the amount of infections I kept getting but since being on them I've only had one infection so for me they are good

[MikeWhite]

I have severe asthma & under the Royal Brompton and on a biological. Every winter I would be in resus 3 or 4 times due to severe exacerbations caused by chest infections. I was put on Azithromycin 3 times a week & it changed my life, before I was off work between Nov & Feb getting weaker with every hospital admission with no real quality of life.

Since starting Azithromycin I have only had one hospital admission in 3 years , it really was a game changer for me, I have my life back.

I was initially on it for the winter months only but when I had a hospital admission in the early summer they suggested that I take it all year around.

One of the side affects that they mentioned to me was possible hearing loss but I was ok to take that risk considering how it changed my life

[Evie3]

Hi. Having had lots of chest infections I paid to see a Respiratory consult privately. He has suggested Azithromycin 500 mg three times a week to keep ‘things’ under control.