about to begin treatment for MAC

Posted by onana @onana, Aug 18, 2018

Greetings. I'm new to the group and about to begin treatment for MAC. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced the three drug treatment and especially hearing best ways to tolerate the side effects.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

@pking Load up on probiotics to ward off nausea. I take ultra flora 50 billion one capsule in the morning and an align immune defense capsule at night. Hang in there. So tough getting started. I promise it gets easier.

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@pking

I am new to the website. I live in Massachusetts and am being treated by my doctor at Mass General. I'm beginning the "big three," but am so sick from the rifampin (extreme nausea which, alas, is quite constant), so fear I won't make it. Reading this thread has helped, but I have to do better than this! This is Day #5 for me. I would appreciate any ideas about managing the nausea.

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@pking ..I used acupuncture and ginger.My MAC was successfully treated with the big three and I've made good progress since. Others have changed the timing of the drugs. Three times aw week is easier than every day and works as well. Good luck finding what works for you.

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@pking

I am new to the website. I live in Massachusetts and am being treated by my doctor at Mass General. I'm beginning the "big three," but am so sick from the rifampin (extreme nausea which, alas, is quite constant), so fear I won't make it. Reading this thread has helped, but I have to do better than this! This is Day #5 for me. I would appreciate any ideas about managing the nausea.

Jump to this post

@pking, Hi there. Many patients on rifampin have found that taking it on an empty stomach helped a great deal. Can take either first thing in the morning, then wait an hour to eat food, or take at night before bed. You may have to play with the schedule a bit before figuring out what suites you. @heathert Heather says eating a cracker with the meds helps her.

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Hang in there! After 2 months my symptoms began to lessen. Hints: Ginger - ginger tea (the real stuff - I like Traditional Medicinals, widely available, even at WalMart - my friend puts it over ice and sips it all day. I drink 2-3 cups/day), Gin-Gin hard candies, I often take my meds with a gluten-free ginger snap cookie because I can't eat saltines. On really bad days, anti-nausea meds - ask your doc for one. You can also try flat real Coca Cola and nibbling on apple slices to ease nausea - find what works for you. Finally, I learned I can only take at bedtime, at least 2-3 hours after a light, bland meal. Eating a lot of soup on med days.

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