Hi all, I have bronchiectasis and have constant chest infections which wont clear. My doctor has just prescribed me with amoxicillin 500mg 2 tablets 3 x a day for 2 weeks. This seems a high dose but I am happy to try if it will help. Has anybody else had this dosage?
Thanks Andy
Hi andyc, That is not a high dose, in fact I will be surprised if it works. It depends which bug you have. I have had bronchiectasis for 63 years. Amoxycillin stopped working for me years ago but at one time I was taking 3 gram sachets twice each day for a month. Take the drug and I do hope that it works. As you say that you have constant infections it might be a good idea that your GP send off a sample to see what bug is in there. You may need a different antibiotic. Remember to get the gunk out. Without doing that no antibiotic is going to stand a chance.
As a 'general' rule, people with Bronch who suffer from constant infections, need twice the average dosage of antibiotic, for twice as long. When I take Augnentin and Klacid ( which works fairly well for me), I take two Augmentin capsules three times a day and two Klacid tabs, twice a day, for a fortnight. This seems like a really extreme dose and it probably is but I need this amount to have any hope of clearing the infection.
So don't worry that you're taking too much. If anything, I would think you are taking too little but obviously that's a decision for you and your doctor.
They have never given me either of those Billiejean, marvellous isn't it.
So which oral antibiotics do you use SS ? I know you use Cipro but surely you need to alternate to avoid resistance. Are you still nebbing the same antibiotic as formerly ? I'm on Colomycin now indefinitely and unlike 2014, when I fought not to take it, I'm now grateful to have it. Considering 2015's impressive bug line-up, I can now see why my cons wants me to stay on it. I'm still taking the daily Azithromax as well, despite the fact that I feel it does nothing for me. After that awful 5 months with Achromabacter, I've just decided to shut up and do what I'm told. That doesn't come easily to me and may not last for long but at the moment I'm winning all the prizes for compliance.
I'm on colomycin + azith too, works for me most of the time. Now & again I need doxy too, but IVs not often thank god
Hi Hanne, as I've just started on nebulising Promixin (similar to Colistin, Colomycin), I thought I wouldn't be needing to take my Azithro too; but it sounds to me as if I might need to then? My word, you can learn a lot on this site 
It seems to be fairly standard practice, if you're colonised with pseudomonas, to take prophylactic azith along with the nebulised colomycin. Research has shown azith helps reduce inflammation & makes the lungs a more hostile place for bugs. Certainly the stuff I cough up (sorry, gross!) is lighter & less sticky with azith than without.
I take 250mg on Mon, Wed & Fri. Some here take 500mg. Take care as azith can be ototoxic, so if you already have hearing problems or tinnitus it can make that worse. If it does, the effect will reverse if you stop taking it. 500mg made my tinnitus worse, so am on 250mg, with a summer break June-Aug.
I neb the Promixin brand of colomycin too, but only so I can have the i-neb, as it's a bit more expensive than generic. My GP is happy to prescribe it on the consultant's recommendation, as it reduces my treatment burden so vastly.
Thank you so much for your explanation Hanne. I stopped my Azithromycin 250 mgs three times a week in May.
I'd been on it (as usual) since Oct the previous Autumn. Basically, Dr Rahman says to start on it as soon as the frosts begin and to stop when the last frost has gone each year
The reason I'm so keen on getting the iNeb for taking my Promixin is, it will make my daily drugs routine so much more efficient and better time-managed; as you said it helps the burden for you too.
I'm hoping that this combo will keep me more stable too Hanne. Glad to hear you're doing well.
I hope so too, so far so good by the sound of it. I know you had a really rough time with the Achromobacter so it's great to hear of your improvement. Thinking of your holiday, makes me wonder how much better health we all might enjoy in warmer, sunnier climes. But I do so love this country! Wouldn't say no to spending the winter further south tho
Yes Hanne, the Achromabacter really drove me crazy. The amount of sputum was horrendous, the sob dreadful and just feeling unwell all of the time. Much worse then I've ever felt with Pseudo. But I'm feeling so much better now and can lead a normal life again. And I've learned a lesson about the importance of staying on Colo if you are prone to weird bugs. I'd love to spend more time abroad too but after one month of paying for meds abroad or trying to communicate with a non-English speaking doctor, would have us scuttling home for the protection of our NHS/health insurance. A month here and there would be lovely though, wouldn't it ? If wishes were horses .......
That antibiotic doesn't even touch my infections and i often need 2 different ones so dont worry as long as what they give you works
Thanks guys. It doesn't get rid of my infections either but they won't prescribe me anything else!! Either amoxicillin or Doxycycline as they say this is reactive to the bug I always have, but it never goes!! Very frustrating as I guess you all know.
Andy, a combination of two antibiotics would probably do the job for you. Sounds like your doctor needs to be brought up to speed.
Andy, do you know what the bug is? Amoxicillin doesn't work for me either, but I find doxy quite effective. I take that at 200mg per day for 10-14 days.
2 x amoxicillin 500mg tablets 3 x per day for two weeks. Is a textbook standard prescription for Bronchiectasis. The main alternative is 1x Doxycycline per day for two weeks, with a double dose on the first day.
Regards Rib
That may be true Rib but unfortunately 'textbook' recommendations don't work for everybody. Sometimes, with a nasty persistent bug you have to hammer it with huge doses of one or more antibiotics. My bronchiectasis is so severe and extensive that it would think I was having a laugh if I offered it 14 days Doxy on it's own. It's an insatiable monster who wants more and different all the time. Not the nicest monster to share your life with - a greedy little bugger
Surely the point was Billiejean that Andy wanted to know if that antibiotic and dose was unusually high. All Rib did was answer that question.
We are all different and need treatments that work for us. I usually get given nebuliser packs to open the airways and shift the muck and antibiotics to match the path lab results.
Yes, I take your point. The reason I pointed out that it's not the only prescription to treat Bronch, was lest Andy feel that there were no other options. Or in case his doctor is sticking by the textbook rule and depriving Andy of the amount and type of antibiotics he needs. Since joining this site I've see hundreds of comments from people complaining that all their doctors prescribed was Amoxicillin and that it never helped them. Other people have refused Amoxicillin, on those grounds. I just want Andy to be aware that there are many options available to him, not just one. I hope this makes the purpose of my reply clearer to you.
Yes, I understood why Rib was making that point, but as you say, sometimes drs need to be more imaginative and step outside the norm. I don't think GPs do that enough.
The bug I always seem to have is haemophilus. I have done about 10 samples in the last year all with the same bug!! I also take Humira injections for a separate joint issue which doesn't help with the infections as it also lowers my immune system.
Catch-22 by the sound of it Andy, if you need the injections for your joints. Quite a few people here are colonised with haemophilus influenzae & it sounds as though you are too. Have you not been admitted to hospital for IV antibiotics, to try & get rid of it?
I was getting constant haemophilus infection every month till last March but I then got an injection of an inoculation against it and have been in much better health since .Consultant has to prescribe it but it seems to be really helping.Worth a try you may have to be very persistent to get it but keep trying.
Andy if your bugs are sensitive to Amoxil then 1,000 mg 3 times a day for 14 days is normal for bronchiectasis. I am colonised with HI and mine often come back sensitive to amoxil and doxy but we are all different. It is certainly not a high dose but would be considered the correct dose. It is true sometimes folks are put on a highter dose, but I hope they do the job for you.
love cx
Hello there Andyc79 and welcome to HU. I've often been prescribed Amoxicillin capsules 500mg, one to be taken 3 times a day for 10 days. Sometimes even that doesn't clear the infection and I've had to start another batch. If you feel at all unwell(I.e. side effects) then best consult your Doctor. Hope you start feeling a little bit better as they tend to take a day or two before they get in your system. Best wishes.
I too have Bronchietasis and have been that same dosage but it didn't kill the bacteria I had,I'm now back on doxycycline which is suppressing the infection,next week I am having a line fitted for intravenous once a day for 2 weeks,if that is successful,I then go on to one doxy a day to keep infection at bay,it all depends on you're bacteria,I expect you have done sputum test to see which one you have,I hope things improve for you soon and you feel better soon.
Best wishes
Jude
Thanks for the comments guys and best of luck to you all!!
I usually get co amoxiclav in high dosage for two weeks. But best always to submit a sputum sample to find out what the bug is and what the bug is sensitive to then you get a much better result. Watch you don't get mouth thrush with such high dosage .Make sure you drink plenty of water.
Ok so doc has now prescribed me with Azithromycin 250mg 3 tabs per week for 4 weeks. Hope I get some joy with these!!
Flying with bronchiectasis
Struggling with Bronchiectasis 
Amoxicillin 
25 with bronchiectasis
