this is to ask people’s thoughts / experience not a suggestion! Azithromycin works really well. It is in multiple guidelines due to 3 high quality trials showing benefit. The trials only lasted 12 months. Longer term it seems to still help but no proof of this. Perhaps some need to stay on, some could stop it: the guidelines state we just don’t know though
How many people take a break from azithromycin in the summer? What do people feel about joining a national trial of azithromycin continued vs stopping for 1 year or longer?
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Tdster43
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I have been on azithromycin for about 12 years. 3 per week all year round. To be honest I would be frightened to alter that. The only time I stop them is when I require other antibiotics.
I’ve been on Azithromycin for about 7 - 8 years and would be very reluctant to change my 3 a week. I do stop them when on another anti biotic for flare ups.
Pete has been on azithromycin for years and takes it three times a week. He does very well on it and doesn’t take any break from it. I do recall though that when first taking azithromycin, if he had a chest infection he then went onto Doxy for a few months afterwards. Azithromycin has worked well for a long time. Xx
I haven't had a break from azithromycin and I'm not sure I would want to as I couldn't face another chest infection. It also helps to reduce inflammation in the lungs and can ease other symptoms , which I think it does for me.
the replies just show how different we all are. I have lifelong bronchiectasis. I took it for 5 years. I had to stop taking it because I developed AF and dilated cardiomyopathy. It has never been investigated as to whether azith caused that. Actually, since I stopped taking it I have had less exacerbations than I had whilst taking it and I simply nebulise salbutamol and isotonic saline faithfully every day. For others it is a life saver.
I nebulise once each day when I am stable.Advice is twice. When you are nebulising Tobi I think that is twice. Maybe ask your consultant about nebulising saline with it. I always made my nebulised abs with saline instead of water. It is more gentle
I’ve been taking it 3 times per week since before Christmas and haven’t had an exacerbation since but my specialist wants me to take a break from it over the summer months to see what happens. His view is that I either live on that and risk the view of it becoming ineffective or try a period off it and see what happens, and that I revert to a course of Ciprofloaxcin if I get an infection. Apparently his rule of thumb is 4 or more infections per year (I’ve heard others say 3 or more) would require azithromycin on a full time basis. So effectively I am about to start the same sort of trial but not as part of a formal study. Happy to report back!
I take Azithromycin 3 times a week during Winter months but stop through Summer. If I have an exacerbation/Infection I take Amoxicillin for 2 weeks. I was told by my Respiratory team to stop the Azithromycin for the 2weeks I am on Amoxicillin.
interesting. I’m on 1 daily Azithromycin since last December because of lot of infections result of my PCD and age. I’m patient of Dr Sullivan QE and theres not been any suggestion of reducing or stopping them. My PCD was clinically confirmed at age 84 at children’s department Leicester Royal Infirmary. I’m only child, my mother lived until nearly 112 so hopefully I have her good genes. NHS finally doing gene research I’m told. When she was alive I had several requests from USA for blood etc. but when asked here there was no interest. Hope your research goes well. Jean
I see that we have the same excellent consultant, whom I have known on her way up the ladder for over 20 yrs. Just to mention. My GP surgery have just sent a request to me to enroll in Discover Me, which is a research project that they are cooperating with that is looking into dna history and its connections to our medical conditions. Those enrolled will receive lots of information about their medical dna in addition to their historical origins. I thought that this might be of interest to you because of your PCD and that it might be worth asking your surgery if they are participating.
Thanks for your reply. I’ve only been with Dr Sullivan 4 years, the other consultant had been seeing wasn’t helpful. My daughter found Dr Sullivan on line by paying and looking at all their interests etc. Very pleased and impressed at her help . Will ask my gp surgery re Discover Me. They are not good, even though I’ve been with them since 1958.
There was a UK wide project on many conditions including PCD and bronchiectasis. Thanks to everyone who helped in 100,000 genomes project. It led to this work showing PCD is more common in bronchiectasis than we knew; pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/357...
I've been on azithromycin daily for 8 years. When I did take a break for the summer a few years ago, I ended up getting infections. My specialist decided it was best not to change things.
I only stop now when taking other antibiotics for an infection.
Hi TdsterI've been taking Azithromycin, for goodness knows how long, but at least 8 or 10 years, I do have a break, just for the summer, I've had 1 chest infection in all that time.
I mentioned it to my consultant, that I have a break during the warmer months, he agreed that it was a good idea to do that, so hope that helps you to decide.
I think it works well. Had a terrible time when 1st diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, infection after infection! Much reduced when I started taking azithromycin & here I am 12yrs later!I never stop.. 3x weekly. 👍
I have not had a chest infection for the time I have been on it, having had 5 or more severe ones yearly for 10 or more years. I would not like stopping it! The Summer would make no difference as the bugs are still around.
Can only repeat what others have said. My wife has taken Azithro 3x per week for last 4 years with no side effects other than not being ill with Covid, not catching whatever awful bug I have had for last month. I don`t think she would change what obviously works for her.
I've been on it for about 7 years, I take a three month break every spring due to having tinnitus on the advice of my consultant. Only had one chest infection needing my rescue pack in all that time and no hospital admissions. I do start to get night sweats and 'hovering infection' during the spring break so I would be worried about coming off it for a year and would need it to be approved by my consultant before trying it.
Hi I've been taking azithromycin for over 5yrs for the first 3yrs it seemed to help, the last year I've found it hard to take them, they make me feel sick and generally under the weather, nurses, Dr's are trying to get me back on them but feel more poorly, I would be interested in the research, hope this helps 😊
When I first started Azithromycin my lung consultant suggested I stopped taking it from May to September because ‘people don’t get chest infections in the summer’ and no trials had been done on taking it all year, so I dutifully stopped taking Azithromycin on May 1st, but in June got the worst chest infection I’ve ever had! It took me a long time to get over it. When I saw my lung man in October he told me not to stop taking it again.
It also works as an anti-inflammatory. usual dosage is 3x per week with no breaks in the summer or any other time. Bronchiectasis does not take holidays, it is there for good or bad.
azithromyacin is a drug that should never be used on irs own according to national Jewish and Mayo Clinic.. this drug is used for Mac Mai, along with 2 other macro lids drugs to fight this bacteria..surprises me the lack of know,edge some of these pulmonary Drs have
Hey Neville, you are quoting guidelines for NTM infection and I fully agree in that setting macrolides on their own should be avoided.
In the absence of NTM then azithromycin is recommended in 5 Bronchiectasis guidelines (British, European, Aus?NZ and others) as a treatment to reduce exacerbations of bronchiectasis. These bronchiectasis guidelines state it is important to screen for NTM infection -hence they are complementary. Hope my knowledge is now deemed to your satisfaction and that anyone concerned about being on azithromycin for bronchiectasis is reassured/ not alarmed
sorry. Not in the states and Canada..our top Dr.. do not recommend it because there is a 50 percent risk factor, if not more to get MAC again..if u build a tolerance to thst drug you are in trouble…I know some English patients in lung matters support group whose Pulmonary Drs do not give thst drug in its own..National Jewish top world renown Drs..say it’s a last resort drug, that is needed for Mac
Hi Tdster43, I have been on Azith for 12 yrs and have had a 3 month break once in all this time. My consultant said there is no real evidence that having a summer break is beneficial. Having said that I would be interested in the results of any further tests. Take care Maximonkey
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Azithromycin - queries?
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