Azithromyccin

Started taking aziythromycin 250 last week only three tabs a week to try and ward of infections ,does anyone no if they start working straight away or do they take awhile to kick in

[Shellc]

They should get you through the winter, I only use when I get an infection now because long term use can affect your hearing , I now wear hearing aids

[Hidden in reply to Shellc]

Thank you for your quick reply Shellc

[sassy59 in reply to Shellc]

That’s a good point Shellc as Pete is harder of hearing now than he used to be. Xxxx

[Hidden]

They start working within 24 hrs. Full force at 72 hrs. I’ve been on this schedule for yrs

[James48 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Apeter. have you found they affect your hearing as other folks have said?

[Hidden in reply to James48]

Yes my hearing has been affected. Moderate though.

[casey16gatsby in reply to Hidden]

I have been on this program for 9 months. No issues with hearing -- as of yet.

JCL

[Hidden]

It does slowly affect hearing. However, the upside is living.

[joyce74]

I have just started on week four and started to produce paler mucus which is now less and almost clear. I too have noticed my hearing is not good, my vision is blurred a little too Mine are 500 mg . Will keep going and hope they will get me through the winter without the dreaded infections. Hope they help you too

[sassy59]

That’s hard to say Alice, I believe they are a slow release antibiotic and Pete gets on with them very well. I hope you find they help. Xxxx

[Pwkav1]

Im on 500mg three times a week and my chest has never been better. Make sure you take pro biotic drinks to put good bacteria back in your tummy. Yes i have noticed my sight is blurred but hearing ok. Been on them 6 weeks up to now another 6 to go. Hope they work for you too Alice70.

[Hacienda]

They are marvellous Antibiotics and Keep you clear of Infections, I have been on them Permanently 3 times per week for 3 years. I keep saying I must go for a Hearing Test, had not thought of the Med making my Hearing Bad ? Will ask my Transplant Doctor next week. xxx

[Acryls]

As far as I know they are immediate. I have been told to use them every other day in the winter months and last winter I was fine so I am confident they are good for people like us

[sheenaR]

Started these 9 months ago not had any infections since given me my life back ...

[sunrise2801]

Azithromycin take a couple of weeks to become established, but they work very well. I have been taking them for about 10 years as a prophylactic maintenance dose antibiotic to help maintain my lung problems, I did stop taking them for about 15 months a couple of years ago because it clashed with a new med I was seriously ill, when not taking them, but since being back on them I am doing really well. I take 250 mg every day. Hope this helps

[offalot]

I was put on a daily dose of 500 years ago as i seemed to be getting recurrent infections. Long story cut short, this was reduced to 250 daily on leaving hospital after an NHS Mini-break for a nasty chest infection a year or two later.

Later still, two events close together - I saw an old-fashioned nurse at Surgery for check-up, who asked if I used a new oxygen canula when I'd had an infection? Not especially, Why? Because it can cause infection to recur! Obvious really, one of those basics, so obvious, but I'd missed it, and nobody else had mentioned it.

Then, for some reason, I didn't take my Azithromycin (or as I prefer, As I Throw Mice In, with witches round the pot) one morning. I had been finding I felt tired, low energy and very dim all day, but started to wake up fully in evening. But on the day I missed the Azithromycin I felt OK all day. So I tested it on subsequent days, satisfied myself that it was the Azithromycin causing me grief, and dumped it. By then my GP had left, so mentioned it to another who said not a bad idea to have a break from it for a few weeks. But I've never restarted, particularly as I suspect it was nasal canula responsible for previous reinfections. That must have been a couple of years ago, and I don't think I've suffered from ditching it. There again, I'm bedridden, see very few people but I do have carers twice a day.

As to hearing, I'd never heard (no pun intended!) of Azithromycin causing hearing loss, but I too now have hearing aids, about 2 years now. They do clarify sound reasonably well, I can now understand American on TV instead of it sounding like all words run together. But that's hardly a benefit! I could live without US drama, and what they call comedy. But I watched a Victoria Wood tribute recently, and if all had the clarity of her diction, I'd not need any help.

Incidentally, just yesterday I was talking to a friend who also has hearing aids, and he amazed me by saying that these qualified him for a Disabled RailCard - saves 30% on all Rail and Oyster costs,

I hope this may help - obviously my Azithromycin comments are just my own experience, I'm not suggesting that would apply to anyone else

[Mosco]

Hi, I am on daily Azithromycin and my consultant discussed with me the real risk of hearing loss and arranged annual hearing tests for me. So far so good. Thought this would be routine for everyone on this antibiotic. ??

[Hidden]

To all Do you know my daughter put me on this site two years ago ,I've only just started to use it i am so glad I have ,I've asked a couple of questions lately, and I have had good positive replies from nice people in the same boat as me .Thank you all for your answers on Azithromycin

[Clareyg]

Hi Alice70, I started on these in August 2018 and take 3x500 a week. I had really bad gastrointestinal issues for the first two months and still do on and off now. No sign of hearing loss but will mention it to consultant when I next see him in Feb. Since I’ve taken them I am much much better than before. I have moderate Bronchiectasis in both lobes of left lung and severe asthma and had recurrent infections until I start taking azithromycin. The mucus is much less in volume and paler in colour and I’m sure that these tablets combined with twice daily chest clearance are what is keeping my health quite stable. I hope they work for you as well as they do for me but be ready for a frequent upset stomach! A small price to pay for better health though.

[joyce74 in reply to Clareyg]

I am on my 4th week and have been having stomach problems too. Started to improve yesterday.

[Hidden in reply to Clareyg]

Hi Clareyg I'm interested to know what inhalers are you taking as your condition is similar to mine I'm on Fostair Spriva ,and Ventolin ,I find Ventolin does nothing for me at all ,I am also moderate Bronchiectasis with mild Emphysema

[Clareyg in reply to Hidden]

I don’t have emphysema but have some other issues so I take quite a lot of drugs to keep as well as I can. So I take Flutiform 250/10 which is the maximum inhaled steroid available (flixotide) combined with Formoterol which is a long lasting beta2 agonist bronchodilator. I am also told to take 2 puffs of ventilon twice a day 20 minutes before my chest clearance sessions to make sure I can expel the mucus. I also take Montelukast tablet once at bedtime and Avyms nasal spray in the morning to prevent post nasal drip which is more steroid but very effective. I also use an an acapella device twice a day followed by auto genic drainage which I’ve been taught and works very well but is tricky to master but essential to keeping my lungs clear of the mucus. I have a rescue pack of 14 days coamoxiclav if I need them ( only once so far since June). My consultant is excellent. I also am having investigations for suspected ABPA which isn’t great news and long term oral steroids is the treatment if so. I’m hoping it’s not. I work full time and stay very fit so my moto is keep taking the meds and do as I am told. It’s working so far. Sorry- bet you wish you hadn’t asked for the meds list now!

[Hidden in reply to Clareyg]

The other reason I ask about meds is I go to see my consultant on10th Dec I am sure I need my meds changing they don't seem to be working anymore I'm so breathless ,don't apologise I'm glad of your answers ,don't no what ABPA is ,its great to hear you can manage to workand keep fit .I retired two years ago when I was 69 seem to have gone down hill a little since

[Clareyg in reply to Hidden]

The improvement really came when I started azithromycin PLUS had a series of chest physio sessions to teach me AD so if you are not doing that every day twice a day, and you know your chest is full of mucus ask to see a chest physio as well as looking at your meds. Meds is only part of the care plan. Remember I don’t have emphysema though! Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[Hidden]

Thank you clareyg your reply much appreciated l also have Bronchiectasis

[helenlw7]

I’ve been on Azithromycin for about 18 months but haven’t noticed my hearing being affected as yet. The plus side is that I’ve only had two chest infections- one really mild, then a really bad one last July. I had been advised my my lung consultant that ‘people don’t generally get chest infections during the summer.’ My gp wanted me to be admitted to hospital but he knows I have a real fear of them so he saw me every day at the beginning of his surgery for four days, and we beat it!

[Hidden]

It's hood to hear you have had only two infection in 18 month ,it would be better without any but still ,I've just finished my second week of Azithromycin three times a week I think they are starting to work I feel a little bit better ,you seem to have a good GP, thanks for you answer

[Airless]

Hi Alice70

I’ve been taking the same tablet for a while now and as with all anti biotics they to have time before they start to have an effect.

Hope this helps have a good Christmas, airless.

[Hidden in reply to Airless]

Merry Xmas to you to ,I do find your reply helpful very much so