Taking All 3 At The Same Time Every Day?

I take all mine about an hour before bed. My doctor is fine with that.

I looked into this a while back as had heard that some docs advised taking all together and couldn’t find any evidence that time of day or taking at same time makes a difference- azithromycin definitely needs to be taken with food, ethambutol with or without and rifampin on an empty stomach
I mostly took rifampin on waking and then others with food an hour later, mostly for convenience to be done for the day. Given how slowly the bugs divide/ grow, it seems improbable that you are going to hit them with any particular medication timing so do what is best for your stomach !

Thanks! I am going to stick with azithromycin and ethambutol in the morning and rifampin before bed. Taking them altogether really messes with my guts and, at this point, I am more into quality over quantity. If I have to live with this for the rest of my life then I will find the best way to manage my drug intake. Thanks for the thumbs up and the info. You all are so very helpful.

When my MAC drug regime was introduced in 2018, I nearly quit after the first 2 weeks because the side effects were a testament to "the cure is worse than the disease." Even though I was very sick and totally fatigued from MAC and coughing, the medication side effects of nausea, headache, body aches, etc were even worse. I talked to my pulmonologist's wonderful nurse, and she convinced me to keep trying for 2 months. She recommended taking all the meds 1 hour before bed, with a small, starchy snack. It worked - I was able to sleep (even if restlessly) through the worst nausea and headache. By late morning, I was even able to eat a little. I spent 12 months on 3 x weekly meds, and 6 months on daily meds. Now, 27 months layer, I am able to maintain with mucus thinning meds, 7% saline & airway clearance.
Her statement was "taking the meds on a schedule that works for you, even if not ideal, is better than quitting." My ID doc and second that opinion. I urge anyone who must take the Big 3 to seek a schedule that works for you.
Sue

Thanks Sue. I went back to my old regimen that works.

Hi, I took mine with saltiness at bedtime. I would eat about 6 crackers take a few then crackers and so on. I hope it helps.

When I began the Big 3 in August 2021, I took all three one hour before breakfast. The side effects was diarrhea and loose stool and I was housebound until noon on those days because one can't control when either will happen. My new MAC specialist suggested I take Azithromycin before breakfast, Ethambutol on empty stomach before or after lunch, and Rifampin before going to bed (also on empty stomach). It worked! No more loose stool and diarrhea! I am no longer housebound on those days I take my drugs.
lora jo

Thank you!