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Azithromycin: "To do or not to do."

Posted , 12 users are following.

Russell27NOLA
Russell27NOLA

Charlie, you have recently stopped AZ. for cramping. How are you? Hope you are better.

Is anyone else either using AZ or have used AZ in the past. What experiences have you had, etc.

I have been on AZ for two monts and am having many fewer infections, infact none.. But of course I would rather not be reaping havoc on my GI tract and breading SuperBugs.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

Best

Russ

 

1 like, 65 replies

65 Replies

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  • charles97600
    charles97600 Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    Hiya Russ,

    Yes I stopped but I'm still okay, I must say it does work well, I still cough up but nothing like before and also got my taste and smell back,but I still do my neb twice a day and symbicort only at night, going tomorrow to GP at the VA I will discuss again with them and hope to get an XRay to take another look will let you know what they say.

    Regards,

    Charlie 

    • Russell27NOLA
      Russell27NOLA charles97600

      Posted

      Great Charlie. I'm wondering if you are planning to resume the AZ therapy.

      It sounds like you are ok. Please keep me posted.

      Best

      Russ

    • charles97600
      charles97600 Russell27NOLA

      Posted

      Hiya Russ,

      Just got back from the Doc. said she was happy about the progress said to still take the AZ even that I'm feeling okay my choice,so I nedd to deceide,I really think that I will see how I do without it, as we all have said how fast it does work when you do take it,so I will try as I have been off it now for 3 weeks will keep you all posted.

      Note she said there is a new drug approved by the FDA for  Severe Asthma suffer's wants me to try but of couse the VA hasn't approved it,must cost too much called IL-5 Mepolizumab.

      We always have been test Rats at the VA but somebody has to do it,I must say that they have taken good care of me all these years so no complaints from me.

      Okay Regards,

      Charlie

    • Russell27NOLA
      Russell27NOLA charles97600

      Posted

      Charles, glad you doing well it seems. So this sounds like a good trial for you. Are you still having the cramping? Please keep me posted.

      Best

      Russ

  • charles97600
    charles97600 Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    Hiya Russ,

    Doc. seems to feel what I had was a GI bug not from the AZ which I feel she is right as I looked back on my History and they had found one of the bugs I had  ( Kansassi ) that I was on 3 meds to kill that one, of which was AZ taken for 1 year

    which did go away and I never had the cramps.

    So as I said I will try staying off and see what hapens will still do everyting else but seems like this AZ is the best thing so far from what we read from all the others especially taken it for 6 years will keep you all posted.

    Regards,

    Charlie  

    • Russell27NOLA
      Russell27NOLA charles97600

      Posted

      Charlie, that is good news. Will be interesting to see how you do being off of the Az. Keep me posted.

      Best

      Russ

  • broadsword
    broadsword Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    AZ has been the secret of by bronch. It simply worked as a single course, only repeated after chest infections which lead on from a head cold. After years of coughing, but not great expectoration, far less than many on this forum, my bronch pretty much ceased to be a problem. 

    I clearly do do not have a serious case of bronch but for me AZ was the secret and magic bullet

    • Russell27NOLA
      Russell27NOLA broadsword

      Posted

      Broadsword, this is an interesting experince you are bringing to the table.

      How long was your course of AZ. For example I am just finishing a three day a week dosing of three months.

      Glad you are better.

      Russ

    • dale60748
      dale60748 broadsword

      Posted

      Bronchiestises is a condition that has damaged the ends of the bronchial tubes and can not be repaired by medication or even surgury. I use to take AZ many years ago for Bronchitas which is offcourse much diffeent than Bronchiestisis and the AZ cleared that up but I am wondering  Broadsword have you been diagnosed by a Doctor with Bronchiestisis? 
    • dale60748
      dale60748 broadsword

      Posted

      Sorry Broadsword I read another post by you and I see that you do have Bronc. IYour article is very interesting and will look into more information on it.

      Its interesting that I also have been taking Amlodipine for several years and wonder if that contributes to the Bronc,

  • broadsword
    broadsword Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    It was several weeks not months starting with 500mg doses and diminishing. I know some people take AZ only several days a week as a maintenance dose. Mine turned out to be largely curative. Try researching the British Thoracic Society (BTS) BX guidelines. My consultant was a contributor.
    • Russell27NOLA
      Russell27NOLA broadsword

      Posted

      Broad, wow! Can you give me his name? I can pass this on to my ID doc and perhaps follow this course.

      Thanks,

      RUSS 

  • broadsword
    broadsword Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    At the time I had private medical insurance so accessing him was relatively easy through the Brompton's private patient unit:-

    Driving change in the Trust

    Professor Robert Wilson was director of respiratory medicine at the Trust for 10 years. 

     

    Under his direction there were many developments to facilitate the patient care pathway, such as the expansion of our minimal dependency assessment unit, a move to single beds on our infection ward, the building of a new bronchoscopy suite and the development of the role of nurse practitioners. 

    Specialist expertise

    Professor Wilson is the clinical leader of the host defence unit at Royal Brompton Hospital.  

     

    He has particular expertise in bronchiectasis, investigation of the body's defences against lung infections, primary ciliary dyskinesia, primary immunodeficiency, non-tuberculous mycobacteria infections, aspergillosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and antibiotic trials.

    International lecturing

    Professor Wilson regularly lectures at international meetings, especially at the British and European Thoracic societies.  

     

    He has conducted lecture tours across the globe, including in China, Mexico and South Africa. He also acts as a consultant to several international pharmaceutical companies.

    Publications

    Professor Robert Wilson is the author of more than 100 peer reviewed original research papers and many book chapters and review articles. He is on the editorial board of Clinical Pulmonary Medicine journal.

  • broadsword
    broadsword Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    I just accessed the BTS site and the latest non CF BX guidelines are 2010, but easily found from the drop down menu
  • broadsword
    broadsword Russell27NOLA

    Posted

    Particularly to Dale, I do indeed have Bx and it shows on scans. It is not severe and was characterised by a regular cough, my own signature tune, wheezing, but then I have well controlled asthma too, and too frequent chest infections. My work up by Prof Wilson ruled out all the other bugs lurking such as asp. 

    I also took took amlop for hypertension but ceased that with an alternative after its frequ NT leg swelling side effect. I could not conclude a Bx connection there.

    Foe me, Az was a miracle but maybe not for others. It is not the antibiotic effect but it's unique anti-inflammatory effect, not shared even by clarithromycin, in the same group of antibiotics. 

    I can can only say what worked for me, in my circumstances. I have read about Bx widely and feel I have it well controlled. If I could say the same for the current brain tumour, I would be delighted. I now know Bx will not carry me off......

    • dale60748
      dale60748 broadsword

      Posted

      Thank You for the reply broadsword,yes after I read your other post I realized that you indeed had Bx and commented to soon . I did not realize the anti-inflammatory effect. I take predizone about 3 times a year due to inflamation problems and maybe I should consuld my Pulmanary Dr. on upping my AZ intake during this time.I also for several years had ABPA (acute broncial pulmanary aspergilis) but I think that somehow it is gone but do not kow for sure.

      I wish you well with your Tumor. If you don,t already know read about the health benifits of drinking lemon water and its effect on cancer cells. I had kidney cancer 6 years ago and drink the juice of 1/2 lemon daily.

      Take care 

      Dale

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