Pain while on the 3 antibiotics.

Can you name the antibiotics he is taking?
I suppose you are talking about macrolide (like azithromycin or clarithromycin), ethambutol, and rifampin.
Joint and muscle pain can be a side effect of some of these antibiotics, particularly ethambutol. It's also possible the pain is related to the MAC infection itself.
In many cases, if the pain is a side effect of the medication, it will go away once the treatment is finished.
Since his sputum tests are clear, it's a great sign that the treatment is working. Still, you should discuss the pain with his doctor, since he is introduced to all the meds he is taking and can prescribe some analgesics to manage it.

Thank you for your input.

I had lots of side effects. But no pain. Did you google the drugs side effects? Did he mention to his doc?

Yes those 3 drugs. Have made appointment with Dr. Next week.

Yes have mentioned to Dr. Have appointment next week

The antibiotics caused my sever pain from drug induced lupus
This rhetoric that it goes away once discontinued is rubbish
My pain and nerve damage has progressed significantly over the last 3 years

I was recently on the "big 3", but I had to stop after just 4 months. Unbearable pain was one of the side effects, but it did go away when I stopped the medication. Praying your husband finds some relief and remains clear of this nasty bacteria.

Important to remember that every body is different and what is tolerable in one is not in another and really, how much can we know about long-term effects? So very sorry you are going through this ordeal. May you find a good resolution for your situation

spoke with Doctor on Tuesday. Been 8 months on daily dose of “the big 3”. Have clear test results so far. Dr said pain can be coming from Rifampin as it will affect joints and increase arthritic symptoms. Dr reduced taking meds 7 days per week down to 3 times per week to see if there is any relief. Here’s hoping. Only 3 1/2 months to go!!!!

I started on the BIG 3 in January 2025. Within 2 days of taking Ethambutol I had terrible joint pain in my knees. I thought I needed knee replacement so went to an urgent ortho care. They x-rayed and told me nothing was wrong with my knees. My doctor took me off ethambutol and the pain went away within 48 hrs. He kept me off of it for a week, and had me try it again. I did so, and again, and within 1 day my knees were so painful I could hardly walk. My nfectious disease doc took me off of ethambutol, and replaced it with Linzolid. So your husband is not the only one who has experienced so much . Your doctor may need to change up the drug.