MAC infection treatment

Posted by sharondig @sharondig, Oct 9 4:24pm

hello everyone, I just joined this site to gather info and share my journey with others. I have just started treatment MAC. I will be taking the big three as some of you call it and will be documenting my progress. My question is, can anyone share their experience with these medications and the actual treatment? It’s a very long process and am hoping to have minimal side effects.
Thanks so much for all of your help!

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laborday24 | @laborday24 | Oct 12 11:32am

In reply to @irene5 "Clarithromycin is an alternative to azithromycin. Sorry you are having headaches. That’s just awful. Irene5" + (show)

My headaches stopped so I guess it was that drug. But I also started taking Allegra so was it going off meds or taking the Allegra. I had very few issues with the big 3. The issues I had were short lived. Like itchiness heart burn

irene5 Irene Estes | @irene5 | Oct 12 1:07pm

In reply to @laborday24 "My headaches stopped so I guess it was that drug. But I also started taking Allegra..." + (show)

Ok. Glad your headaches are gone. Headaches are a definite no bueno. Irene

lindabourassai | @lindabourassai | Oct 12 1:07pm

In reply to @laborday24 "I am going there November 18. How did you handle all the testing. I took the..." + (show)

When I was at National Jewish the tested me for resistance to different drugs and the alternatives to the drugs. Clarithromycin is the drug that they found to be the best choice for me.

laborday24 | @laborday24 | Oct 12 4:07pm

In reply to @lindabourassai "When I was at National Jewish the tested me for resistance to different drugs and the..." + (show)

So. You are still on three drugs I see where a lot of people are on arikayce

laborday24 | @laborday24 | Oct 12 4:09pm

In reply to @irene5 "Ok. Glad your headaches are gone. Headaches are a definite no bueno. Irene" + (show)

R u the person going to njh in December. I forget who tells me what with all the unusual names

laborday24 | @laborday24 | Oct 12 4:29pm

In reply to @laborday24 "So. You are still on three drugs I see where a lot of people are on..." + (show)

How long were you there and are you being taken care of at home. Are there side effects

irene5 Irene Estes | @irene5 | Oct 12 5:43pm

In reply to @laborday24 "R u the person going to njh in December. I forget who tells me what with..." + (show)

No I'm not. But I do understand. Hard to keep track sometimes. 🙂 irene

prancer1996 | @prancer1996 | Oct 13 7:44am

Hello
I have MAC. I am told that 3 antibiotics are required as treatment. Before starting treatment I have been reading side effects and noted that vision and hearing could be impacted. Has anyone currently on the Big 3 had these side effects and if so what are they and what changes were made to help.
Hope to hear from you.
Prancer1996

pamlw | @pamlw | Oct 13 8:25am

In reply to @lindabourassai "Everyone is different. I cannot tolerate the big 3 or the Aricayce . I went to..." + (show)

I’m allergic to the major antibiotic Clarithramycin, Cipro, and others. I too am using albuterol and 7%. It’s been especially difficult during the hurricane.

lindabourassai | @lindabourassai | Oct 13 11:53am

In reply to @laborday24 "So. You are still on three drugs I see where a lot of people are on..." + (show)

No I cannot take any of the drugs as I am allergic to one or more of them. I went to National Jewish and had all of those tests to find an alternative. There is nothing I can do except for physical alternatives such as nebulizing, flutter valve etc. If I get ill with something that requires an antibiotic I am supposed to take Clarithrymycin.