I've been prescribed the Big 3 for MAI. In addition to nodules, I have one lung cavity (16×9 mm), and I take ethambutol and rifampin daily and azithromycin on MWF. The directions are to take the azithromycin and ethambutol one hour before breakfast and the rifampin two hours after dinner. I've been taking them for three weeks. Is there any reason I can't take all three at the same time at night? Does anybody do this? The reason I ask is because the ones I take in the morning seem to knock me out for several hours after breakfast, and I'm thinking if I take them all in the evening I might avoid this.
@erawl….I take the big 3 between 9:00-10:00 at nite….this schedule was suggested by Dr A…at Mayo Clinic at a conference, and then your probiotic 2 hrs later…also another probiotic in am, at least 50 billion…initially headaches, fatigue and that all went away…have been on meds for app 3 months..hope this helps
@egayle187
@erawl…I was prescribed Ethambutal and Rifamprin with clarithromycin MWF 2x a day for 14 months.The scheduling may be a result of the ID's preference.
I hope others will chime in on their scheduling, so you can see how variable it can be. If it comes to a choice, continuing the meds in a way you can tolerate is preferable to stopping them. Your doctor may agree to flexibility in timing when you explain the side effects to him or her.