Daily dosage of Rifampin Ethanbutol and Azithromycin

@debminuet I have been on 3x a week then changed to daily and I found it easier, on 3x a week I was very tired all the time and would sleep most the day, on daily this is much better. I wish you all the best with your new regime.

I was on every day, switched to 3x a week, Sunday’s off. Now I am back on everyday. I found that eating toast for breakfast and no dairy food helps to not have indigestion so bad. The indigestion made my throat feel on fire really bad. So far I have had a good day, seeing my doctor later about a new drug calledArikares inhaler. Has anyone else tried this medication ? At first Was not sure if I would change , but the druggist called and said it was not the bad side effects I had understood it had. I will know more after I see my Doctor today. I pray for all of us as I go through this journey with you.

Thankyou so much. The milligrams are so high twice as high as when I went on them before! And, so Im more concerned about side effects. Do let me know your thoughts on this if you can?

I just received my Arikares kit and after reading about it not sure I want to start. I’m on the 3 meds daily - think I want to stay with them. Arikares side effects frighten me as I have a hearing loss, macular in one eye and retinopathy in the other. Has anyone been on it?

Hi @marilynk Yes I was on Arikayce (inhaled Amikacin) for a year and did not have any problems except losing my voice at first. I have seen the list of side effects and they are scary but they do not happen to everyone thank goodness. All the best

To@marilynk....I started Arikayce on Nov 12 and have been on the Big 3 for six months. I’ve had a sore throat and have had emotional ups and downs. I too am very concerned about the serious side effects. Being on any kind of medication for a long period of time is tough on us....but so is this disease. I am vigilant following all the instructions and getting periodic eye and ear and blood check ups. The troubling thing I find is how little doctors know about this drug....and their lack of experience with patients taking it. Still I plan to continue with it unless side effects become overwhelming. Id like to hear from everyone taking Arikayce...we can be a great help to each other!

I received my Arikares kit and it scared me also, I talked with my doctor today and was told the side effects written in the kit were actually for the type that goes in the arm intravenous, not the inhaler. After talking to both my doctor and the attending pharmacist
I agreed to go on the new medicene. I was disappointed to hear that I would need to continue the Big 3 med’s along with the Airkares.
Now I will wait for the insurance to agree to pay and go from there. I have had some problem with my right ear ringing, the left has started a little. I will be tested on Monday for that. Was told the Big 3 would not cause the ear ringing but have my doubts as we all have different side effects. We just have to have faith that God will lead the doctors in helping heal us. Good luck

I was on the 3 a few years ago and did not have a problem but wonder about now, 5 years later. He wants me to go on them again plus the Arikares. At this stage I’m soon to be 83 and I’m healthy and lots of energy - do I want to give that up??

I took all three every day and I was ok . That was 8 years ago and now I have such bad fatigue that I am thinking of restarting that regime again . I know it is scary but I am hind of like visiting nog like an invalid noe and felt much better on the meds.

@marilynk and everyone....there seems to be a pattern here of so many of us needing to repeat the multi month regimin of the big 3. Has anyone also used alternative medicine? Acupuncture and Chinese herbs along with a diet void of preservatives, sugar, and flour..... rich in rest, meditation and exercise? CBD oil? Even western medicine is begining to lean more towards functional medicine to our benefit. We need to treat more than our infection....which is what the big 3 target...we need to treat our entire bodies with more care and respect! The meds have their place, and although I am concerned about the adverse effects on our bodies of taking long term antibiotics I will continues us to use them until one of my blood draws, eye checks, or hearing tests show problems. I will also incorporate CBD oil, acupuncture, and herbal remedies into my healthy diet, meditation and rest routines. Yoga is also of benefit for breathing and relaxation. For all of us this is incredibly time and mind consuming.....we need to embrace beauty and do all we can to heal. I’m thankful we have each other and for me I’ve found that leaning on God and looking to him for healing has brought me peace and courage to continue this struggle. I wish you all good health!