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Bronchiectasis and azithromycin 3 times a week.
Is anyone trying azithromycin 3 times a week to try to stop recurring exacerbations of bronchiectasis from happening as often? My pulmonary doctor has suggested this. I’m a little leery because I don’t want to develop bacterial resistance from overuse. I currently use 14 days of amoxicillin when I have a bronchiectasis exacerbation.
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I was diagnosed with BE 3-30-23 and have been on Azithromycin 250 3x/week since then, nothing else. My pulmonologist says with this low dose it is anti-inflammatory and not functional as an antibiotic. Therefore no antibiotic resistance occurs. My exacerbations occur as hemoptysis with several days of dyspnea. So no fun and sometimes scarey. Right now I do have the flu bug that is plaguing the nation. I am staying ahead of the increased mucus production with more frequent use of my Aerobika, more frequent postural drainage and use of ABC. My pulmonologist is aware and trusts my judgment.
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1 ReactionA 7-day course of prednisone does it for me! Have had BE for over 50 years and just completed a year of the Big 3 three times a week. Anxiously awaiting results of next culture and scan. I wish you all well in this new year.
I am on 250 3x/week also. Dr. Winthrop said the same as your pulmonologist said that it is anti-inflammatory. Would not cause resistance.
Ling
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1 Reaction@snoei Thank you for replying. You have given me something to ask my Dr. 250 versus 500mg. 3x weekly.
@wangling Thank you for replying. I have never been given prednisone as an option for my flares. My son has used this when he has bad bouts of bronchitis. Something I can ask about.
@hoopsnest17897 Thank you for replying. I will be asking about prednisone at my next office visit.
I recently brought up taking Azithromycin 3/week to my local ID doctor and she said I could try it but she was concerned about the resistance factor. So, it's interesting to hear that 250/mg 3/week does not cause resistance. I will bring up to my NJH ID doctor when I see her in the spring. I would be fine with taking a lower dose to help with the inflammation. I would think it would reduce mucous production as well.
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1 Reaction@kathyjjb
Just wondering if you have tried the new drug Brinsupri that is supposed to reduce Bronchiectasis flares ? I would be interested to know what your NJH doc thinks about the lower dose Azithromycin and resistance.
@cwal Unfortunately, I have a Medicare advantage health plan and it does not cover Brinsupri. I was misled by my insurance broker and now it's too later to change to the original Medicare plus a gap-at least according to my new health insurance broker. I also cannot get Nuzyra (can't afford the $30,000/month), despite the fact that it shows to be highly effective on MABC.
I will post it when I learn more. I did recently read that Erythromycin is the recommended macrolide for BE inflammation, and it does not cause resistance to MAC, not sure about MABC.
@cwal I read the side effects of brinsupri and thought I wasn’t ready for anything like this yet. Also curious, does anyone find albuterol inhaler (I use during flares) helpful? Is anyone using daily Advair inhaler? So hard figuring out what each of our own individual needs are.