Hacking Cough with Tobramycin

Posted by Patty57 @mountains1957, Dec 17, 2025

Hi All,

I am on my 4th week of nebulized Tobramycin and have 4 weeks to go. Since I started the Tobramycin, I have developed a very bad cough, which is not very productive, just more of a dry cough. I've been drinking warm teas to try and help. Keeps me up lots during the night as well.

My schedule is: 2X day (start the day at the gym)

Levalbuterol inhaler, nebulize saline, Autogenic Drainage, Nebulize Tobramycin

Prior to starting Tobramycin, I could nebulize 7% with no problem, now I can't get through a session of it due to the constant coughing. I then lowered it to 3% saline and same thing...can't get through it.

Any tips for me?

Then there is the black tongue syndrome!!! Ugh!

Patty

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pacathy | @pacathy | Dec 18, 2025

That sounds pretty miserable. Have you contacted your doc? It looks like it can cause coughing, but also bronchospasm. Do you feel short of breath, too? It might be possible for doc to adjust your bronchodilator dosage or timing, etc.

I don’t have personal experience with a cough from meds, but before I got diagnosed, I had just horrid coughing episodes and peppermint hard candies worked better than inhaler, cough drops or medicine, teas, etc for me. Those coughs were exhausting and I hope you can find something to help.