Bronchiectasis / Doxycycline

[ks1966]

Hello again peeps.

I was prescribed Doxycycline for a Bronchiectasis flare-up. I'm wondering if seven days is enough treatment or if the duration should be longer. Amoxicillin is typically prescribed for two weeks.

Thanks

😊

[Chip_y2kuk]

Depends on the dosage and the seriousness of the infection... what I sill say is I'm pretty sure that doxycycline has quite a long lifespan (I think its going on 2 weeks) in your blood stream

It's commonly prescribed "a loading dose" (2 tablets on day 1) and 1 a day for a further 6 days ... but I've also had 2 a day for 10 days ... doxycycline is the only antibiotic I've not needed a follow up course with ever.

[ks1966 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

thanks

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to ks1966]

No problem, I have asthma and Excessive dynamic airway collapse and got quite frequent chest infections ... and doxycycline is my second favourite antibiotic.... after being allergic to penicillin and the next in line to penicillin making me massively sleepy... I settled on doxy

But a little over a year ago I was put on azythromycin 3 days a week and haven't had a chest infection since.

[ks1966 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

My Consultant is also considering putting me on Azythromycin x3 per week too. She’ll call me on the 24 th to discuss options. The thing is I’ ve had a flare up for over 2 months and my sputum cultures are clear 🤔

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to ks1966]

Azythromycin used over long term is known to reduce your FENO ... mines halved since I started it.

[jackdup in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Is that good or bad? I assume good but am not familiar with FENO.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to jackdup]

Yes its good.... FeNo (exhaled nitrous oxide levels) where found to be higher in people with airway irritation/inflamation ..... so the more inflamation, the higher the FeNo

The lower the FeNo the lower the airway inflamation .... its a relatively easy way to monitor airway inflamation and takes a few minutes to do.

[jackdup in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thank you for the explanation. How do you monitor it?

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to jackdup]

It's a bit like a spirometry test ... you blow in the mouthpiece trying to keep the car/plane/bird/bee in a certain place for a short time .... and then in a few minutes the machine works out your feno and a score pops up on screen

The machines although quite compact are fairly expensive (I looked online) so I have mine done in the hospital at appointments ... which sadly are fairly regular.

[jackdup in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thanks again

[Alberta56 in reply to ks1966]

For what it's worth I've had one infection in 4 years since I was put on azithromycin.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Alberta56]

That's amazing

[Alberta56 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

I got a string of infections before my dimwitted surgery reluctantly agreed to send me to see a consultant.

[peege in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Hi Chip, there's a new post you may be interested in from a member who's found (at last) some help for her EDAC. I'll add the link in a mo....... healthunlocked.com/asthmalu...

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to peege]

I've seen this and it was "suggested" (I think the doctor was politely telling me I had sleep apnoea as he wanted me to have a CPAP, but the penny didn't drop until much later on) I might have sleep apnoea as the NHS doesn't provide CPAP apparently for people who don't have sleep apnea and there is some but not substantial evidence that CPAP helps people with EDAC... but there isn't much of any information about EDAC/TBM

[Swizzy]

The bronchiectasis guidelines state antibiotic treatment for 14 days.bronchiectasis is not the same as copd or a chest infection in a normally healthy person. The only antiobiotic with different dosage for bronch is azithromycin at 3 times per wk.

[ks1966 in reply to Swizzy]

Thanks. Thing is my sputum culture came still, yet still coughing my eyes out

[Swizzy in reply to ks1966]

What many doctors do not understand, but my very senior bronch consultant tells me, is that the bug which colonises bronchs -pseudomonas - can build a coating on itself so that cannot be identified on a lab plate. I am having this problem right now. I was showing and feeling all of the symptoms of an exacerbation but nothing showing up. My doc decided to givevme 14 days meropenem IV anyway. Half way through and feeling considerably better. Still nothing showing up in the lab. Bronch is a very complex condition.

[ks1966 in reply to Swizzy]

I’m glad you’re better. Is your consultant around the London or Birmingham area? Is worth seeing him if has a private clinic

[Swizzy in reply to ks1966]

She is at the QE in Birmingham. Co chairman of the British Thoracic Society. I have been with her for twenty years and with the man who trained her for twenty years previously. Going the private route with bronchiectasis is no guarantee of getting better treatment than with a knowlegable experienced NHS consultant. Many consultants in private practice are actually just general respiratory consultants who don’t have enough experience or knowledge of bronch. You can find the same problem in the NHS. This is why you need to find a consultant who is specifically a bronch specialist. It really does make a difference.

[ks1966 in reply to Swizzy]

Waw. I live in Birmingham and QE is literally a few miles away from me. It is also the hospital I go to for all my treatments, glaucoma, etc.

Can you please share her name with me.

[Swizzy in reply to ks1966]

I have sent you a pm

[Jaybird19 in reply to Swizzy]

i dont suppose you know long the culture was incubated . ?

[Swizzy in reply to Jaybird19]

I would have to be staff in the labs to know that. Sometimes I think that the standard tests don't give time for some of the bugs to grow.

[Dottie11 in reply to Swizzy]

I agree 100%. xx

[Yumz199725]

I have been on 500mg 3 times a day for 5 days of amoxcycilln for a chest infection. So maybe you need a stronger dose? X

[Patk1]

Always a minimum of 14days antibiotics for bronchiectasis

[Shimmysue]

I’ve been told 14 days doxycycline for any flare up infection with Bronchiectasis , might be worth speaking with your doc. Hope it clears up soon.

[Michaela1965]

Hi I have Doxy for bronchiectasis as a rescue med. I have it prescribed for two weeks always and with prednisolone if needed. According to the NICE guidelines it is more effective given over a two week period! I have let’s had it for two weeks as a shorter time is usually not very effective and it comes back. Take care and hope that helps 😊

[ks1966 in reply to Michaela1965]

Thanks

[Lyla2018]

Hi been diagnosed for 6 years,now when I have a flare up they only give me five to seven days ,which I don't think it's enough but it works x

[Julie14]

I also take Azithromycin it was x3 per week but around 2 years ago he upped this to every day as I was having a lot of flare ups but now I am not so this appears to be the right dosage for me.

[Egpa]

Hi, I have bronchiectasis and asthma, my consultant always gives my 14 days of co-amoxiclave for flair ups , I don't get on with Doxycyline , 10 days is not enought to clear it properly I have proved in the past.

[peege]

Look up the N.I.C.E guidelines for bronchiectasis, copy them out to present to your prescriber. Good luck

[MoyB]

It's always 2 weeks of Doxy or Amoxycillin for me. Since starting Azithromycin three times a week in Jan 2023, I've had two mild chest infections - one related to COVID. Both cleared quickly with Amoxycillin and no need for prednisolone. The Azithromycin has been a game changer! I feel I have my life back.

I agree about the pseudomonas not showing up in sputum samples. I suspected I had pseudo because nothing was shifting my infections and was ill for months (2022) but nothing shown in samples. Pseudos finally showed in my sample and I was told by a GP that I didn't require treatment for it. Saw my consultant shortly afterwards - you can imagine his reaction to that! He immediately put me on Ciprofloxacin which sorted me out in no time and, when all was settled with that, I started the Azithromycin and haven't looked back.

xx Moy

[ks1966 in reply to MoyB]

Thank goodness

[watergazer]

Hi. I always get 3 weeks of doxycycline and once I needed 3 weeks to get over a flare up. Bronch flare ups can be hard to shift c

[ks1966 in reply to watergazer]

Hi. You took a 3 week dose of 100mg? Thanks

[watergazer in reply to ks1966]

Not sure of the dose but I had 2 weeks then doctor prescribed another week x

[Seahorse1a]

Hi, I suffer from bronchitis, I find that Doxcycline helps mine, and 7 days is plenty. All I can say is take them, and if you feel no better, go back to your Doctors and let them know how you feel.

[gingermusic]

It is normally given for 2 weeks one is not enough

[ks1966 in reply to gingermusic]

Thanks. 100mg?

[gingermusic in reply to ks1966]

Not sure and cannot check mine as they are packed ready for my holiday, sorry

[Llarlv]

Hello! I was told by my consultant always 2 weeks for Doxycyline

[PurpleEllie]

I have been told by several Doctors that with Bronchiectasis you should have 2 weeks of antibiotic treatment regardless of what is being treated. I recently had cellulitis in my thumb and had 2 weeks of antibiotics. I believe it’s a precaution as much as a treatment.

[Lutontown]

Depends. Have you had a sputum sample tested to show that Doxycycline is the right antibiotic? Also, what strength of Doxy have you been prescribed? How deep rooted is the bug? Doxycycline and Amoxacillin are both general cover AB's. I have found that a long 500mg course of Doxy gave me Oesophagitis; then a load of Gaviscon.

[Ern007]

. Amoxicillin has been overused and does not work for a lot of people. For my resue pack I have Doxy two to load - and then one for 5 days... Depends on how bad you are.

[glamor]

Would somebody clarify this string of info on Bronchiectasis as it is runs contrary to everything I know up to now ie what it is, treatment etc. Very confused at this point. Thanks

[LYNBURDON]

Hi if taken longer it doesnt actually do anything as the first seven days should do it.

[Patk1 in reply to LYNBURDON]

I've had to persevere and have had 12wk courses for haemophilia influenza + also for staph aureus.7 days isn't enough for bronchiectasis and the nasty infections that take hold,quickly,in our lungs.

[Jaybird19]

have just returned from todays meeting with doctor at hospital. he stressed that doxy was first drug of choivce drug , but double strength and double length of normal course of this , with amoxiclav scond and cipro third choice .

i assunme this is before testresults are known.

[ks1966 in reply to Jaybird19]

hi. What strength and for how long? Thanks

[KitKat1954]

I didn't get better from Bronchiectasis and repeated pneumonias and infections until my specialist put me on azithromycin 500 mg 3X per week. I stayed on that for 6 mos. and then went off it. It's been a year and I still haven't had an infection and I am feeling so much better. Before that I had a 2 yr. period where I really suffered. Azithromycin also has anti-inflammation properties which I believe helped, along with giving me a period of time where I didn't have an infection, so my body got a chance to heal.

[lds_kernow]

By my experience, two weeks of Doxycycline is normal sometimes with Prednisolone thrown in.

[Chinadoll81]

Afraid this antibiotic no longer works for me but, yesThe period needs.to.be longer

Blessings and love

X

[modace]

I've been told that you have to take a 14day course. This is included in my rescue pack.

[Topsy-Turvey]

Hi It's only recently come to my attention that with bronc, we need 2 weeks worth for a flare up. Doxy are what I call monster antibiotics . They tend to try 2 wks of amoxacylin first with me. x