stay on low dose antibiotic indefinitely for chronic cough.

Posted by mirsy @mirsy, Mar 29 9:55pm

My 80 yr old husband has bronchiectasis and the chronic cough is driving him nuts. He was recently on an antibiotic twice and each time the coughing stopped and it was wonderful for him. Is it possible he could stay on a low dose of an antibiotic indefinitely to keep cough from coming back?

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lenorj | @lenorj | Mar 30 7:36am

I have had the same response to an antibiotic. Thanks for asking the question.

noisylungs31 | @noisylungs31 | Mar 30 10:55am

In reply to @lenorj "I have had the same response to an antibiotic. Thanks for asking the question." + (show)

Same question here...10 days of Levofloxacin helped greatly.

mirsy | @mirsy | Mar 30 11:24am

In reply to @lenorj "I have had the same response to an antibiotic. Thanks for asking the question." + (show)

Thank you for your reply. Are you on a low dose antibiotic now for your cough?

mirsy | @mirsy | Mar 30 11:25am

In reply to @noisylungs31 "Same question here...10 days of Levofloxacin helped greatly." + (show)

If you are finished with the antibiotic have you started coughing again?

mirsy | @mirsy | Mar 30 11:38am

In reply to @noisylungs31 "Same question here...10 days of Levofloxacin helped greatly." + (show)

I know Levofloxacin is a heavy duty antibiotic which has to be used carefully. The last two antibiotics that worked for my husband were amoxicillin given for a dental procedure and I cant think of the name of the other one right now which was given for wound healing. They both stopped the cough.

scoop | @scoop | Mar 30 12:25pm

Research has shown that low-dose azithromycin is effective in managing bronchiectasis without NTM, with promising results. However, a potential drawback is that azithromycin is a key antibiotic for treating NTM. If resistance develops, it can no longer be used for NTM treatment, making management more challenging. Consulting a pulmonary specialist with expertise in bronchiectasis and NTM disease can you make this decision.

mirsy | @mirsy | Mar 30 12:59pm

What is NTM? Thank you for this info. I will send an email to his pulmonologist. Hope you are doing ok and so grateful for this helpful site!!!!

blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Mar 30 3:45pm

In reply to @mirsy "What is NTM? Thank you for this info. I will send an email to his pulmonologist...." + (show)

NTM stands for Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).
One can have Bronchiectasis and not have an infection, from my understanding.
If you like you can google NTM and it will explain it all it detail.
Sorry to hear about your husband and the cough. For me I have to clear my throat of mucus/sputum all day long. Is that what happens when he coughs, he brings up mucus/sputum???
Barbara

scoop | @scoop | Mar 30 3:48pm

In reply to @mirsy "What is NTM? Thank you for this info. I will send an email to his pulmonologist...." + (show)

NTM=Non-tuberculosis, mycobacteria including MAC/MAI etc. Those with bronchiectasis are at an increased risk of getting this because of our compromised lungs. This bacteria is ubiquitous in water, air, and soil and is difficult to avoid. There are ways to mitigate its exposure.