Wow, every MAC doctor prescribes differently for these 3 meds.
Mine is:
Week 1: Ethambutol - in morning - no food for an hour.
Week 2: Add Rifampin - same timing- morning and no food for an hour.
Week 3: Add the Azithromycin - with food at any time of the day.
So interesting the variation. I'm only on day one of the Rifampin so I, too am at the beginning of this process (54 y.o., no symptoms but diagnostic imaging + broncoscopy biopsies' pathology = treatment). I posted already but ethambutol took 4-5 days adjustment - had headaches that went away finally. I'm worried about my gut with the rifampin... Good luck.