RE: - bronch/pseudomonas problems

[Guest guest]

How about Azithromycin? That's what I'm on now. Because my bronch is flaring up chronically, my doseage is as follows: 1/day for 14 days..then I'm going on treatment for 3 mos..1 every other day..

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Hi Sandie,

Do you think the Azithromycin is helping with the pseudo? I have chronic pseudo infection, and find that cipro is no longer effective (although I do test sensitive to it). I have had a few short courses of Azithromycin (500mg every second day), and find that it helps to reduce the amount of sputum. I just need to convince my specialist to prescribe it over longer periods. They are expensive here, 6 tablets cost $55.00 on a private script. Are they expensive in the States?

Best wishes,

Bunny (Sydney, Australia)

[Guest guest]

---My mom was told that those antibiodics don't work for pseudomonas -

only very few do, and when they stop working, you are in trouble.

She couldn't do cipro because of severe stomach/colon issues. She

could go back on it, but has to really watch.

She hasn't had a major flareup since June, but that doesn't mean she

feels wonderful. She usually catches it with an upped dosage of

leviquin, and then the flare up isn't as bad as they could be.

Is pseudomanas common with bronchiectasis? Does the treatments vary

considerably depending on what bacteria is present? I'm still trying

to understand this stuff!

Thanks! Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be common both in non-CF (cystic fibrosis) bronchiectasis, and also common in cystic fibrosis. In my opinion it requires treatment, because its one of the bad bacteria that can do damage to the lungs. I think with bronchiectasis that its best to treat infections aggressively. Having an infectious disease specialist can be a huge help. Once again Pseudomonas requires treatment such as inhaled TOBI (or generic tobramycin) , colistin is another take I sometimes take be inhalation, there is Cipro via IV or oral, zithromax, and a slough of others. Its vital that you mom have a doctor willing to treat these infections aggressively, as bronchiectasis can seem fine one day and one can be very next within the same day or the next. Doctors must be aggressive and be following pulmonary function tests (even four times a year, etc). Chestphysio and exercise and vital, as well as a well balanced

diet, and some treats are perfectly fine. Its Christmas! Various inhalers and aerosol meds for an aerosol machine can be ordered. There are Acapella, flutter, pep masks, etc that can all be helpful in airway clearance. there's tons that can be done, but again I think your mom should be followed by an infectious disease specialist - one with knowledge of bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis (Many of the bronch, treatments are taken from CF research). See: http://www.pseudomonas.com/ http://www.uams.edu/pediatrics/cf/respiratory_therapy.asp Hugs:0) Mart Liz l Pre-Lung Transplant Journey - For updates please visit my carepage and leave a message. Thank you! ) carepages.com name: maryelizabethholt Please watch: Live Life Then Give Life! - UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz33i6prkuQ. "Don't take your organs to Heaven, heaven knows we need them here." __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Do you mean Erythromycin? If yes, the answer to your question is that it is

not very expensive in the U.S.

Marsha

[Guest guest]

I think with bronchiectasis that its best to treat infections aggressively.

I'd like to know, being at the progressive stage I am w/my bronch..how many anti's have any of you taken at one time and for how long.

What are the side effects of the inhaled antis? My dr isnt keen about starting me on the nebbed Tobi..but if this doesnt start getting better w/the treatment he's doing now, that's what's going to happen.

The next step ..if the above doesnt work, would be to remove both lower lobes of my lungs..lung volume reduction.

Sandie in MD

Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Gonna Help Them Up

[Guest guest]

Do you think the Azithromycin is helping with the pseudo? I have chronic pseudo infection, and find that cipro is no longer effective (although I do test sensitive to it). I have had a few short courses of Azithromycin (500mg every second day), and find that it helps to reduce the amount of sputum. I just need to convince my specialist to prescribe it over longer periods. They are expensive here, 6 tablets cost $55.00 on a private script. Are they expensive in the States?

Best wishes,

Bunny (Sydney, Australia)

Bunny..I just started the treatment 5 days ago. I'll let you know how this long term treatment works for me. We have to be so careful with long term use of antis for that exact reason. . building up an immunity to them. This is really starting to make me anxious.

Best to you too

Sandie in MD

Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Gonna Help Them Up

[Guest guest]

It's like that quote "its half a dozen of the one, etc" my ID specialist agrees that antibiotics do not work as well over time. We rotate mine and this helps. Inhaled tobramycin is one that continues to work well over the long-term. I have been on and off this one since my teens. It can be rotated with colistin. Pseudomonas is a dangerous bacteria. Personally, in my opinion it requires aggressive treatment. Some specialists believe it may be possible to erradicate Pseudomonas from the lungs if they found it early enough and treated aggressively. Hugs:0) LizSunniesback55@... wrote: I think with bronchiectasis that its best to treat infections aggressively. I'd like to know, being at the progressive stage I am w/my bronch..how many anti's have any of you taken at one time and for how long. What are the side effects of the inhaled antis? My dr isnt keen about starting me on the nebbed Tobi..but if this doesnt start getting better w/the treatment he's doing now,

that's what's going to happen. The next step ..if the above doesnt work, would be to remove both lower lobes of my lungs..lung volume reduction. Sandie in MD Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Gonna Help Them UpPre-Lung Transplant Journey - For updates please visit my carepage and leave a message. Thank

you! ) carepages.com name: maryelizabethholt Please watch: Live Life Then Give Life! - UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz33i6prkuQ. "Don't take your organs to Heaven, heaven knows we need them here." __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I take Erythromycin, 250mg; Doxycyclin, 100mg: I alternate weekly between

the two, 3 days a week of one; the next week 3 days a week of the other;

then back to the first one for 3 days, and so on indefinitely.

I have no side effects and have been on the routine about 4 months. It has

controlled the infection problem. So doing these Rx with postural drainage

and an occasional breath of Albuterol is my regimen.

Marsha

[Guest guest]

My pseudomonas bug became resistant to cipro. We finally got it under

control with one week of IV antibiotics. Happily for the past eight

months it has been quiet, though my pulmonologist tells me that it

really does not disappear permanently.

Tolly

[Guest guest]

Bunny..I just started the treatment 5 days ago. I'll let you know how this long term treatment works for me. We have to be so careful with long term use of antis for that exact reason. . building up an immunity to them. This is really starting to make me anxious.

Best to you too

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Thanks, Sandie, I hope this helps you, and I'll be interested to hear how you get on. My other question was whether the Zithromax is expensive in the States? We really do need a wider choice of antibiotics for this dreaded pseudo.

Take care, and keep well.

Love Bunny

[Guest guest]

I take Erythromycin, 250mg; Doxycyclin, 100mg: I alternate weekly betweenthe two, 3 days a week of one; the next week 3 days a week of the other;then back to the first one for 3 days, and so on indefinitely

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I'm glad that is working for you, Marsha. Do you have pseudomonas in your lungs or are you dealing with other bugs?

It is good that your doctor is alternating your antibiotics, it sounds like a good routine.

Keep well, and best wishes,

Bunny

[Guest guest]

I'd like to know, being at the progressive stage I am w/my bronch..how many anti's have any of you taken at one time and for how long. What are the side effects of the inhaled antis? My dr isnt keen about starting me on the nebbed Tobi..but if this doesnt start getting better w/the treatment he's doing now, that's what's going to happen

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Hi Sandie,

I have been on cipro and inhaled tobramycin for years, as maintenance medications at home. I doubt the cipro is doing very much, but I still test sensitive to it. I inhale 2 x 80mg vials of tobramycin in the nebuliser daily. I have no side effects from either. I have heard that some have hearing problems if tobramycin is used in high doses, but it is generally quite safe to use. We don't have TOBI (tobramycin) here in Aust, we use the generic tobramycin which is a much lower dose.

Take care, and best wishes.

Bunny

[Guest guest]

My pseudomonas bug became resistant to cipro. We finally got it under control with one week of IV antibiotics. Happily for the past eight months it has been quiet, though my pulmonologist tells me that it really does not disappear permanently

That's good news Tolly, I wish I had the same long term results after IV's.

Cipro is widely used for pseudo, no wonder we are all becoming resistant to it.

I know there are other antibiotics in the quinolone family, e.g. Levaquin and

Moxifloxacin, however, Cipro is supposed to be the most effective.

Our only other options are inhaled antibiotics and IV's.

Take care and keep well.

Bunny

[Guest guest]

Hi Tolly, my understanding is that the resistances may change and in

the future the drugss may work on the bugs, in the past I have shown

up as resistant to cipro and a few months later it is okay, guess the

bugs fight it out among themselves as well..wonderful thought!.I must

ask my Dr if that is true in many cases.

Anyway, stay well and Happy holidays to you and yours.

Carole

>

>

> My pseudomonas bug became resistant to cipro. We finally got it under

> control with one week of IV antibiotics. Happily for the past eight

> months it has been quiet, though my pulmonologist tells me that it

> really does not disappear permanently

>

>

> That's good news Tolly, I wish I had the same long term results

after IV's.

> Cipro is widely used for pseudo, no wonder we are all becoming

resistant to

> it.

> I know there are other antibiotics in the quinolone family, e.g.

Levaquin

> and

> Moxifloxacin, however, Cipro is supposed to be the most effective.

> Our only other options are inhaled antibiotics and IV's.

>

> Take care and keep well.

> Bunny

>

[Guest guest]

No pseudomonas or anything else fortunately.

Marsha/NYC

[Guest guest]

I take Erythromycin, 250mg; Doxycyclin, 100mg: I alternate weekly betweenthe two, 3 days a week of one; the next week 3 days a week of the other;then back to the first one for 3 days, and so on indefinitely

That's what I did once..two years ago..looks like I'll be going back on that regime too.

I'm so looking forward to not being sick all the time.

Sandie in MD

Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Gonna Help Them Up

[Guest guest]

That's good news Tolly, I wish I had the same long term results after IV's.

Cipro is widely used for pseudo, no wonder we are all becoming resistant to it.

I know there are other antibiotics in the quinolone family, e.g. Levaquin and

Moxifloxacin, however, Cipro is supposed to be the most effective.

Our only other options are inhaled antibiotics and IV's.

Cipro. I'll have to remember that. I havent started a regime on that yet.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

Merry Christmas Y'all!!!

Sandie in MD

Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Gonna Help Them Up

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sandie, I hope this helps you, and I'll be interested to hear how you get on. My other question was whether the Zithromax is expensive in the States? We really do need a wider choice of antibiotics for this dreaded pseudo

I dont know the cost because Medicare D pays for my meds. My co pay is 5 bucks for the Zithromax. But alot of my meds are very very expensive..I know if it werent for the help I'm getting i'd be in deep doody!!!!

Sandie in MD

Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Gonna Help Them Up