Aziythromycin

[Jk1957]

I take aziythromycin (250 ) three tabs a week and find it very helpful. I still get infections but the gap between has widened. my chest specialist advised to keep taking them even while on another antibiotic , I am wondering does everyone else do the same thing . He says they are doing a separate job. I follow his advice but it just seems a lot to take at one time. Many thanks in advance for replies which are much appreciated.

[Shellc]

When I was on them I used to take them and another antibiotic to hit the infection hard . I now just use azithromycin when I have an infection on its own

[Hidden]

Yes I do the same. An infection will do more harm.

[Gladwyn]

Consultant told me not to stop taking Azithromycin when taking Amoxicillin .

[Nottobad]

My consultant told me to stop taking Azithromycin when I have to take another antibiotic. But haven’t had any infections since starting Azithromycin 2 years ago.

[Jk1957]

Thank you all , it’s just so hard to know ..

[Carroll]

Yes, I am on Azithromycin prescribed by my consultant I agree they have reduced the amount of infections that I have had. I have taken them with another antibiotic and had no effects.

When I had an appointment with my respiratory nurse at my surgery I mentioned taking Azithromycin and the dosage and times to take it, she stated she had never heard of anyone taking it !!!!!

[peege in reply to Carroll]

Good grief, what shocking ignorance for a respiratory nurse. I had one like that, she'd never heard of the BLF, thrush or any of the skin & bone deficiencies from taking steroids. Thankfully she's now gone - perhaps she went to your practice 😁

[Hidden]

Yes I do. Azithromycin is a prophylactic antibiotic, it helps to prevent chest infections. I haven;t had any infections since taking them, but if I did I would continue to take it while also taking another antibiotic.

[santisuk in reply to Hidden]

Actually, AFAIK there is no such thing as a 'prophylactic antibiotic'. It's just another type of antibiotic that can be used prophylactically to great effect because it has anti-inflammatory properties (as well as antibacterial) and inflammation is one important trigger for infections.

Other antibiotics have been used prophylactically for our conditions (and possibly still are - I only know about bronchiectasis, where azith has become the drug of choice - as recommended by British Thoracic Society doctor guidelines). Doxycycline, for example, was a frequently used antibi in prophylactic mode for those with very frequent infections when I was first diagnosed with BX

[wheezyof]

Hi,

Azithromycin has been really good for me. A whole year without a flare up!!

To take them and another antibiotic together? A lot depends on what other antibiotic you take. Antibiotics are in groups, or types, rather like families. One type will be better at tackling one sort of germ, another will be better at another.

A while back, when I was getting flare ups very frequently I was put on 2 antibiotics at once and that's when the doctor explained a bit about the groups.

Just follow your doctor's advice, if in doubt ask the doctor to confirm the instructions.

[Jk1957 in reply to wheezyof]

Thank you all so much , each & every reply have been SO helpful & I appreciate them

[santisuk in reply to wheezyof]

Re "A lot depends on ....." comment

It's very unlikely you would be offered another macrolide (the class of antibi that azithromycin falls into) as a 'rescue'/'flare-up' antibi if you are normally on one prophylactically.

[asthmatim]

I take Azithromycin three times a week but I am on 500mg. The main reason I was put on them was to control my brittle asthma type 1 better. My proffessor found a study that showed that it was not so much for the antibiotic use but for the asthma control use was found to be a major benefit for brittle asthmatics and hard to control asthmaics. I have found that it has made a big, big difference to my condition. So I hope this is helpful to you.

[Jk1957 in reply to asthmatim]

Asthmatim .. this is most helpful thank you

[Michaela1965]

Hi ... I take 500mgs of Azithromycin every other day so every other week it’s 4 and then 3 tablets but even on that amount I take other antibiotics when I have a flare up. I’ve not been on them long only about 4 months and had one flare up where I had extra antibiotics and steroids but I guess we are going in to the winter 😊 🥶 ... my consultant recommends this amount as it keeps my bronchiectasis symptoms down but I also have colonised pseudomonas (a horrible bacteria that never goes away!) I just think that I will take what I have to to make my life as “normal” as possible and so I can continue to work, and so far it’s been ok. If you need it to live a good quality of life then take them that’s my philosophy 😍x

[Jk1957 in reply to Michaela1965]

Thanks Michaela for your most helpful reply . This is a great forum

[AngieB72]

I take Azithromycin on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays but if I develop a chest infection (which now is not very often) I take amoxicillin at the same time - I have an emergency pack of these at home at all times. I have pulmonary fibrosis do it is important that I try to prevent any further scarring as much as I can.

[Jk1957 in reply to AngieB72]

Thanks Angie for most helpful reply .. I feel I’m getting a handle on things better now that I know other people are doing likewise

[santisuk]

Another vote here for sticking to the azith when taking 'rescue antibis'. Azith is a macrolide and it's main claim to fame is it's ability to add anti-inflammatory properties to I'd ant-bacterial weight.

Sticking with it was recommended by my Thai pulmo and, although he is not particularly technical on bronchiectasis he seems to be very intuitive about antibiotics. I mentioned it at my annual Papworth review and the bronchiectasis specialist there did not demur.

[Jk1957 in reply to santisuk]

Thank you santisuk for comprehensive reply .. I feel so informed from all the great replies I received .