I was told to take azithromycin after a meal to reduce side effects and to take rifampin and ethambutol on an empty stomach. The schedule that worked best for me was to take the azithromycin after breakfast and the rifampin/ ethambutol at bedtime. We eat an early dinner so that when I go to bed at 10:00 I have not eaten in 3+ hours. I have been on the meds for 22 months, 3 days a week and have been MAC negative since April 2024 so I will be stopping the meds soon.it sounds like you did not take the antibiotics for a full year after you cultured negative. The protocol here is a full year of treatment after you turn negative. I fully expect to have a reoccurrence of MAC in the future. I just hope I get a decent break off the meds before it returns. I will be taking every possible precaution to avoid it. I will say a prayer for your successful and easily tolerated treatment.