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Arikayce and airway clearance
This is a question for anyone who has used Arikayce. I'm just adding IV imipenem and inhaled Arikayce to clarithromycin and ethambutol (stopping the rifampin) to treat my combined MAC and abscessus. I'm trying to figure out how to fit all this into my day, along with enough nutrition and a daily walk for exercise. The IV will take about 2 hours twice a day, 12 hours apart, so it's kind of tricky. Is it a good idea to do the albuterol, saline neb, aerobika, arikayce all in one run, or is it better to separate the arikayce and do it at another time? Has anyone done the airway clearance and/or arikayce while the iv infusion is going through a picc line? I gues I worry about shaking it all up in there! Any tips for managing all this would be greatly appreciated!
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I'm doing the Arikayce, three meds, Albuterol & the Sodium solution & that takes some time. How does the IV work and do you find it effective? Been considering that but was told about strong side effects. Just wondering &
it takes 2 hours? That's quite a run!
I use my bronchodilator (for me, it's levalbuterol) prior to the Arikayce, but I separate the Arikayce from the saline/Aerobika. Both make me cough a lot so it works best for me to separate them. I haven't been on IV imipenem, but I was on IV ertapenem. It used an elastomeric device that could be put in a bag and carried around the house with me while the infusion was going through the picc line (much easier than a bag hanging on an IV pole). It didn't seem to be a problem to neb or use the Aerobika at the same time (and I wasn't told to separate them). It is a lot to try to fit into the day! I hope they work well for you!
Can you administer the Airkayce IV from home?
What milligrams are you Airkayce and imperium
Starting my treatment 1st week April
Thanks for you information and help
Jerry
I am on ARIKAYCE and it’s administered through a special nebulizer. I was on it for several years and was MAC free for about 18 months. I have MAC again and have been on ARIKAYCE for about a month. It is supplied in single dose vials of 590mg/8.4ml.
Hi @bdr. Were you on Arikayce only or did they do other antibiotics first and then add on Arikayce? I was diagnosed 4 years ago and started on the BIG 3 but could not tolerate them. Nothing much after that. I feel the doc may go with Aarikayce next month as my lungs are worse. Lots of Tobramycin because of chronic pseudomonas.
I am on rifampin and azythromicin and ethambutol along with the ARIKAYCE. It is a difficult regimen since the drugs are nauseating and I’ve lost a lot of weight. I also have a pneumonia and am waiting on a sputum culture.
Arikayce was a game changer for me. The Big 3 were difficult for me to tolerate. I had no problem with Arikayce. Lots of doctors like to combine all of it, but Arikayce alone did the trick for me. Mine was covered under the Assistance Fund as it is megabucks if you have to pay for it. Irene5
Thanks to all for your answers.
Was the Airkayce covered by Medicare
Did any one use imperium?
I have Medicare and AARP United Health Care supplement.
I am on Medicare - SSDI. ARIKAYCE has a $2K monthly copay. The company has a program to absorb the costs for those eligible.
Hi @bdr. I use a Pari-LC neb set up as recommended for inhaling Tobramycin. Is that what you use with Arikayce? Thanks.