Starting Big 3.. suggestions on how to take them.

Hi Bonnie,
I started the meds in dec and good news, so far so good! I was also scared to start them but am really freeling ok so far. I take them daily and take rifampin in the morning with a light snack (as suggested by my dr) and no dairy (started using oat milk in my coffee). Then the other 2 meds i take after dinner. I was advised that those may make my stomach feel off/sick so take them at night. Good luck!!

Thank you for your response. Are you saying no dairy with the Rifampin or no dairy while on treatment?
I do appreciate your information. I'm scared but, I know I can do this.
I pray for all who are dealing with this disease.
Kind regards
Bonnie

I took Azithromycin with dinner for the best results

Thank you♥️

Bonnie, apparently every doctor has a different regimen for taking the antibiotics. To avoid nausea I recommend starting each drug separately:
Azithromycin for one week
Add rifampin the second week
Add ethambutol the third week.
I was told to take azithromycin with food and rifampin and ethambutol on an empty stomach. I take azithromycin after breakfast and ethambutol and rifampin at bedtime (approximately 3 hours after dinner). You can also take ethambutol and rifampin an hour before a meal but I prefer taking it at bedtime. This routine has worked for me. I have been negative for MAC since April, 2024 so will complete my treatment April of this year.

I’m new here Mary, but what great news to hear that you have been negative for nearly the year now! I’m praying to be like you. If I look at things from the perspective of six months to get the negative test, it certainly shines a different light on this treatment. Can’t believe I didn’t look at it from that point of view before. Not quite so daunting.

I keep a small pocket calendar on which I check off each day that I complete treatment. It has helped me focus on the short term and it is very satisfying to complete a month. In the beginning it felt impossible but getting on a routine will help tremendously. Best wishes on your journey.

Hi,Bonnie…I am starting my 6th week of taking these meds 3 x wkly & have had no side-effects thus far. I take them all together (6 pills) in the morning 1hr before eating or 2hrs after, also a daily pre-/probiotic. Understand this is to be at least a year undertaking with intermittent blood tests.

Wow, every MAC doctor prescribes differently for these 3 meds.
Mine is:
Week 1: Ethambutol - in morning - no food for an hour.
Week 2: Add Rifampin - same timing- morning and no food for an hour.
Week 3: Add the Azithromycin - with food at any time of the day.
So interesting the variation. I'm only on day one of the Rifampin so I, too am at the beginning of this process (54 y.o., no symptoms but diagnostic imaging + broncoscopy biopsies' pathology = treatment). I posted already but ethambutol took 4-5 days adjustment - had headaches that went away finally. I'm worried about my gut with the rifampin... Good luck.

Thank you Mary!