Itraconazole.

[Mavary]

Hi. Just to say I went to the Dr yesterday and I asked him when I can stop taking the Itraconazole. He said not until I see the Consultant. I don’t see him until the 16th of May. I’ve already been on them it must be nearly a couple of months. It seems rather a long time. Has anybody else been on it for that long? That will be about eight months.

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. Antifungals can be needed for more prolonged periods of time than bacterial antibiotics, so my understanding (and experience with the child) is that it’s not that uncommon to take them for a month or two, sometimes up to courses of 6 months, and with chronic infections potentially even longer term still, but it does depend on the nature of the infection and the response to treatment. Because there are blood tests that indicate whether someone has active aspergillus infection, the decision as to when to cease treatment is usually made based on repeat bloods in conjunction with whether symptoms have resolved. If bloods have normalised and symptoms have disappeared, then it’s usually deemed appropriate to stop treatment and see what happens.

If you’ve already been seen by a respiratory consultant previously then I would contact their secretary, explain the situation, and ask for advice. Or if you have a hospital based respiratory nurse, you could try that route. I’m assuming by doctor you mean the GP told you to continue until May, but as with antibiotics, resistance is a concern, so you don’t really want to take itraconazole for any longer than is necessary to successfully treat the underlying fungal infection. Did you tell them that’s when your appointment is when they said to continue until then? The other factor to mention is that, as per the BNF, liver function should be monitored monthly for any course of treatment exceeding a month. Although not as hardcore as some of the antifungals used agains aspergillus, it’s still quite a strong medication and known to cause liver issues.

[Caspiana]

Hello Mavary. If it makes you feel any better, I have been on it for three years and chances are I will be on it for life and I have not suffered any ill effects. xx 😊👋

[Mavary in reply to Caspiana]

Thank you Caspiana I was just beginning to worry after Charlie Gs post. I wonder if you can get resistant to Itraconazole. I did with Ciprofloxin.

[Caspiana in reply to Mavary]

To date, no. xx 😊

[eleanordigby]

I’ve been on it five years now, with occasional IVs of a stronger one. Haven’t had any problems

[Mavary in reply to eleanordigby]

Thankbyou Eleanor.

[peege]

Hi Mavis, i hope the above replies alleviate some of your worries about taking the anti-fungal for longer than 2 months.

I cant help however except knowing the importance of controlling aspergillus. Have you ever looked at the NHS website (full of very sensible information on every ailment). Just Google NHS aspergillosis and a few links will come up. This is what I've copied from their main page as treatment:-

《steroid tablets and antifungal tablets for a few months (possibly longer) 》

Did you ever have a CT scan to see how much aspergillus is in your lungs? P ×××

[Mavary in reply to peege]

I was in hospital nearly five years ago with first pneumonia then I came home and kept saying to the Drs I couldn’t breathe in the mornings. I got up one morning to go to the loo and passed out. I went back in hospital and that’s when they found I had Aspergillosis. So I did know the right treatment from last time. I don’t think the practice nurse did until she read my notes. I was getting worse and woke up one morning and couldn’t breathe. That’s when I knew I needed the steroids. I didn’t want to go back in hospital. I went in hospital for cellulitis in my arm a couple of weeks ago. I never want to go back again. I had the most awful stay. They say it’s pretty bad in there. Well I found out for myself.

I was worried if I took Itraconazole for too long I would get resistant. As soon as I had the steroids I was better in a week or two. I did have a couple of CT scans and they found I had Interstitial scarring. Of course that worried me because Mike died of IPF. But it’s not that. I was supposed to go for a heart scan so they told me nearly three years ago. I had one after they first found out I had Aspergillosis. I haven’t heard about the second one yet.

My breathing is worse since the last lot of Aspergillosis. I would imagine your lungs scar more everytime you have a flare up of it.

[peege in reply to Mavary]

Arrrgh, i just lost the long reply I wrote so I'll come back later. P××

[Mavary in reply to peege]

Ha Ha! I do that if I’m distracted and go off to do something. Have a look in is it Google.

[Janlyn1953]

Hi Yes I have been on them about 4 months.

But have felt poorly on them dizzy, blured vision and so tired.

Also they have effected my Diverticulitis.

I am seeing the specialist next week, so asking him to change them, I've been naughty and have stopped them 3 days ago, and already feel better.

Just scared my allergies start up again.

Take care.

Do you have any side effects?

[Mavary in reply to Janlyn1953]

Hi I’ve got Diverticular disease too. I had my sigmoid colon removed about 11 or 12=years ago. I’ve still got diverticular disease though. I don’t envy you one bit. It can be so painful. Luckily I haven’t had too much trouble since having the op.

I’m fine on the Itraconazole. I think they upset my tummy when I had them for the first time but this time round I’m ok. I presume they do something else. That with steroids certainly made me better.

[Jaybird19]

how do they diagnose fungal infections these days ?/

i went to a lecture given by Alaister Hay many years ago about this saying how difficult it was to diagnose fungal infectionsin lungs . now that was more than than 25 years ago when I was still working, and a lot has happened in that time. . does a CT scan show it or does it need an MRI. I used to work with fubngal cultures and i often wonder if that is the cause of my lung problem . ithas been ignored in the past so maybe I should try mentioninhg it again.

[Mavary in reply to Jaybird19]

Theyvdoba blood test to see how high the IEGs are. Something in your blood. They do a CT or MRI scan to see how it’s progressed. I think that’s right. That’s what they’ve done with me.