Time of day to take big 3

Posted by melb0606 @melb0606, 1 day ago

Hi. I've seen a couple of people discuss the time of day they take each med of the big 3. Im about to start taking them daily and am trying to minimize GI issues. Cam you share when you take each mes during the day and if it is with or without food.
Thanks!

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I have been treated for pseudomonas three times over the last 14 months, twice with Cipro and once with Levofloxacin and inhaled Tobramycin. I have heard that pseudomonas is very difficult to cure so I believe that my pseudomonas is never really gone, just knocked back for a while. I couldn’t tolerate the tobramycin because it caused severe shortness of breath. Each time I have been treated for pseudomonas the doctor told me to stop the MAC medications and then slowly restart them, first with azithromycin for one week, then add ethambutol for another week and then add in the rifampin. I’m sure the pseudomonas will return but I’m hoping to complete my MAC treatment before I have to treat it again.

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I should have also told you when you start treatment, take azithromycin for a week by itself, then add ethambutol for a week and finally add rifampin. This may help the GI issues. Also, have you discussed with your doctor taking the meds only 3 days a week. That is much easier to tolerate but your doctor may have specific reasons for taking them daily.

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@maryjanechilds

I should have also told you when you start treatment, take azithromycin for a week by itself, then add ethambutol for a week and finally add rifampin. This may help the GI issues. Also, have you discussed with your doctor taking the meds only 3 days a week. That is much easier to tolerate but your doctor may have specific reasons for taking them daily.

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Thank you for your replies! I did ask about 3x a week but she is insistent on daily. I think because i have a cavitation even though i am asymptomatic. She also stresses that i have to start all 3 meds within 24 hours of each other. I took ethambutol and azithromycin for the first time tonight and will take the first dose of rifampin tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed that i cann tolerate this.

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@deb2230

Hello,
I started the big three in November. I can’t take them at empty stomach because it’s juts to hard on my stomach and I get nauseous. I usually get up at 7:30 do my ACT and have breakfast. At 11 I take all of them with a glass of water and about three crackers. Then I have lunch at 12. This works for me and I check with my ID doctor at NJH and she said that is good. I also have GERD so I don’t eat or drink after dinner.
I hope this helps.

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Thanks for your post.
If I start the two antibiotics I was wanting to take them all at the same time and wondered....so glad you posted your routine. Taking the 2 antibiotics in the AM all at the same time is what I will try....if...(still saying that)...I take the antibiotics.
One thing though...for me mornings are all "used up" for doing what one needs to do for caring for oneself with BE/MAC, educating oneself if having questions and concerns, food preparation, food intake and antibiotics if wanting to take them all at the same time to allow for having other required and wanted nutritious foods the rest of the day and while trying to eat just small meals as they suggest.
Same here....no eat or drink 3-4 hours before bedtime due to hiatal hernia.
Challenges we have been given and why we often say to each other "Hang in there."
Barbara
.

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@blm1007blm1007

Thanks for your post.
If I start the two antibiotics I was wanting to take them all at the same time and wondered....so glad you posted your routine. Taking the 2 antibiotics in the AM all at the same time is what I will try....if...(still saying that)...I take the antibiotics.
One thing though...for me mornings are all "used up" for doing what one needs to do for caring for oneself with BE/MAC, educating oneself if having questions and concerns, food preparation, food intake and antibiotics if wanting to take them all at the same time to allow for having other required and wanted nutritious foods the rest of the day and while trying to eat just small meals as they suggest.
Same here....no eat or drink 3-4 hours before bedtime due to hiatal hernia.
Challenges we have been given and why we often say to each other "Hang in there."
Barbara
.

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Barbara,
you are absolutely right! It’s quite a task to keep up with all the routines and doing the right thing.
The good side is that it seems to get easier as time goes by.
I started the antibiotics in November and that was not an easy decision but I decided to trust the doctor. So will see

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