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Nebulised Gentamicin/ genticin

Posted , 5 users are following.

christopher15870
christopher15870

Hello!

I have been diagnosed with suspected bronchiectasis and my consultant has suggested nebulised Genticin twice a day. I was just wondering if anybody else has had this treatment; how long you have had it for and whether it was successful?

Thanks!

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • supercough
    supercough

    Posted

    That seems like a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Have you had a sputum culture and if you have, did it show pseudomonas? If you haven't had one, find a new consultant because that would be blind prescribing of the worst kind.
  • fiona89941
    fiona89941

    Posted

    That's true I had a run of chest infections, pneumonia and then treated again for pleusry. I had strong antibiotics continuously for 5 months , it drained my system.the gp was blind prescribing me with anything he could think of it felt like , I finally got sputum tests requested by the chest clinic which spotted the type of infection and I received the correct treatment. In future I will take a sputum sample as soon as I visit the gp.
  • lesley05714
    lesley05714

    Posted

    Thanks for that, I have been on antibiotics since Christmas and a different lot every time, the doctor hasn't asked for a sputem test at all;

    Lung bleed last August and diagnosed with bronchiectasis with the specialist after a CT scan.

    Off to the doctor again today, still coughing badly, very productive, using my flutter, getting very tired.

    • supercough
      supercough lesley05714

      Posted

      Sorry Lesley, your GP sounds like a fool. NEVER accept an antibiotic for your bronchiectasis unless the sputum culture shows that the bug is susceptible to it. If you are having a major infection or flare up ask to see your specialist or have your GP contact him or her for guidance. Most GPs are neither trained nor qualified to treat Bronchiectasis and their advice should always be viewed with caution. Remember, they can home and live their lives, you have to cope with a dreadful disease. Fight, fight and fight again, do NOT allow yourself to be a victim or a statisic. YOU are the most important person, the doctors are there to SERVE YOU!
  • fiona89941
    fiona89941

    Posted

    Hi Lesley

    I use an electronic nebuliser once a day it makes me cough the productive stuff up without much effort from me, a local supermarket sold them for 20.00 so I bought a spare to use as

    at my partners house. It's a preventative to stop attracting infection so easily . I use it now my infection has cleared up.

    What happened at the docs did you take sputum sample in?

    Fiona

  • lesley05714
    lesley05714

    Posted

    Hi Fiona,

    Yes I took a sample in and they have delivered it to the hospital lab' it will no doubt take a few days for the

    results.

    He also gave me 'Azithromycin' 250mg tablets to take, one every Monday and Thursday; probably to keep me going until I see the specialist again.

    The doctor has sent a letter to my specialist to send for me, I don't understand the delay as I should have

    had another CT scan in February.

    Thank you for the info' on an electronic nebuliser, I'll look into that, it sounds very useful.

    I do get tired with this 'flutter', I've given it a rest for a couple of days.

    Sounds as if you are in control, the sputum test appears to be the answer.

    Kind regards,

    Lesley

  • lesley05714
    lesley05714

    Posted

    Hi Folks,

    I have a new set of tablets, recommended for the new bug that has been found...I appear to have a few lodgers! So new measures to deal with them... Ciprofloxacin 500mg twice every day for seven days.

    This idea of a sputem test is excellent as these tablets recommended, are the first ones since Christmas that have really worked and I have only taken 3 days...4 more to go and feeling so much better.

    My appointment has come through to see the specialist at the hospital, I am so pleased with my new doctor who really seems to care enough to chase the hospital and get the right tablets for me.

    • judi77460
      judi77460 lesley05714

      Posted

      Hi Lesley,

      I have been on Ciprofloxacin on and off for over twelve months now but unfortunately the pseudomonas infection is now resistant to that particular antibiotic and I am now on Gentamicin via a nebuliser after being in hospital for 2 weeks hooked up to an IV with Gentamicin and Timentin.  Hope this doesn't happen to you.

      Regards,

      Judi 

  • supercough
    supercough

    Posted

    Cipro is an excellent drug and quite helpful but the course is usually 14 days for resistant strains. Thankfully your referral has come through and your consultant will be able to take a better view of things.
  • lesley05714
    lesley05714

    Posted

    Thank you for the information, supercough, ...I do hope you haven't really got a 'supercough'

  • fiona89941
    fiona89941

    Posted

    Hi

    That's the drug that eventually stabilised my bugs, pseudomonas , my specialist said that they are usually present in bronchiestesis and flare up when an infection unsettles them.

    I use my nebuliser everyday to prevent attracting a new infection.

    From fiona

    • supercough
      supercough fiona89941

      Posted

      Pseudomonas aerogenosa to give it its full name, is present in many cases of bronchiectasis but usually in those who have had the disease for a long time. Long term sufferers will likely have had many courses of quite major antibiotics which leave the lungs vulnerable to superbugs like pseudomonas. I have noticed in reading many of these comments that GPs are throwing major antibiotics at patients blindly which is bad medicine. Brochiectasis patients should NEVER be subjected to blind prescribing because doing so can cause extensive resistance to many to powerful drugs. Cipro is quite effective in dealing with pseudomonas if the dosage and length of course is correct but if the does is too low or the course too short, resistence readily occurs. When this happens, you are left with few alternatives such as Colomycin and Gentamycin. However, as my own specialist often says, once you have pseudomonas, it never leaves entirely. I have to admit that I am shocked at the cocktail of medicines that some of you are taking, I can't help thinking that some of you are being ill-advised. If you have a flare up, take along a sputum sample to your doctor so that he can find what sort of bug is causing it. Do NOT accept a blind prescription and if a bug is discovered, have your GP ask the consultant for his advice. If you are not attending a consultant, find yourself another GP because he or she is obviously a clown. You must take charge of your own disease, read all you can about it and never take things at face value..ask questions, insist upon answers. I learned the hard way with a succession of incompetent fools who thought they knew best. 
  • judi77460
    judi77460 christopher15870

    Posted

    Hi Christoper,

    I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis in 1991 and really didn't treat it with the respect it deserved and have paid for that disrespect over the last 6 years, particularly the last 12 months.  I have had continuous pseudomonas infections, which is the worst type of infection to have if you are diagnosed with bronchiectasis.  Pseudomonas feeds on bronchiectasis.  Until recently I have been treated with Ciprofloxacin, Bactrim DS and a course of Prednisolone all to no avail.  I was hospitalised for 2 weeks and in that time I had IV antibiotics of Gentamicin and Timentin which whilst helping did not get rid of the infection.  I have been sent home with the Gentamicin to be used in a nebuliser twice a day for at least the next 3-4 months as well as being on Erythromycin 400 mg twice a day for the rest of my life.  I have also been using a product called HyperSal which is a 6% saline solution also to be used with a nebuliser.  I have been using the Hypersal since May last year and it does help to bring up some of the "gunk" in my lungs.  As I said treat brochiectasis with the respect it deserves.  Make sure that you have regular sputum tests and chest x-rays.  Don't be put off by your doctor saying that "your lungs are clear", this is what my doctor said but each time my results came back it showed the pseudomonas bug.  Needless to say my GP and specialist now listen t me when I tell them "IT'S BACK AGAIN".  The Gentamicin in the nebuliser appears to be working and finally clearing my lungs.  I have found that using a portable nebuliser is better and more efficient than the larger nebuliser.  Hope this information is of some use to you.

    Regards,

    Judi

     

  • sdawoolsey
    sdawoolsey christopher15870

    Posted

    You need an exellent respiratory specialist. Don't believe that a gereral doctor or practitioner is sufficient. And you must believe in exercise & maintaing your heatlh.

    I strongly recommend walking 30 minutes each day, I hate walking but started this 6 mnonths ago & can see a remarkable difference.

    I was diagnosed when I was 32, have had it since infancy &, while it is becoming increasingly scary as I get tired & sick, feel you need good treatment & support & understanding.

    We need to create a BA (btronchiectasis anonymous) support group & get together regularly to have a laugh about this. There is not enough awareness about this disease & it strongly compared to cystic fibrosis.

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