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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: tnboy on February 06, 2007, 02:47:33 pm

Title: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: tnboy on February 06, 2007, 02:47:33 pm

   Just wondering if any of you have ever taken "Azithromycin" and if so how well it worked for you?

  I had my latest lab work done last Tuesday and on Thursday my doctors office called and told me my doc wanted me to start taking azithromycin, 2 tablets once a week. My t-cell count has dropped to 21 but they did not have my VL results yet. I will see the doc again in 3 weeks and I am sure he will explain more but in the meantime I was curious if any of you have had any experience with this med.


Thanks,
Mike
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: Strayboy74 on February 06, 2007, 02:55:46 pm
Sounds like you have an infection.  Azithromycin is an antibiotic. :)

I think when I took it I took it on an empty stomach which caused me to develop an ulcer.  But I think I was taking it for an STD, and not the same as you indicate having been prescribed....

This is what I read online, as it pertains to HIV:

"Azithromycin (az-ith-roe-MYE-sin) is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It is also used to prevent Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Azithromycin may be used for other problems as determined by your doctor."


-joseph

Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: egello on February 06, 2007, 03:01:30 pm
at t cell 15, I am currently on it two pills once a week as a prophylaxis to MAC. I take them on Sunday with all my other pills, and nothing unusual happens on that day.
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: Tucsonwoody on February 06, 2007, 03:06:40 pm
My experience is just like Egello's - two pills once a week as a preventative measure against MAC - Mycobacterium avium complex  http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/998_6710.shtml 

No noticable side effects after 3 months on it. Seems to be a pretty standard treatment.
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: allanq on February 06, 2007, 03:14:50 pm
Mike,

As mentioned by egello and Tusconwoody, the azithromycin is to prevent MAC infection (Mycobacterium Avium Complex). I took azithromycin for about a year, when my CD4s were less than 50. I took it with another antibiotic, Ethambutol. I didn't have any side effects from these medications. When my CD4s increased to around 100, I was able to discontinue both the azithromycin and ethambutol.

Ask your doctor if you should also be taking fluconazole (Diflucan) as a prophylaxis against fungal infections. As with the azithromycin, I was able to discontinue fluconazole when my CD4s improved.

Allan

Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: JohnOso on February 06, 2007, 04:41:16 pm
Agree with above....I was on azithromycin starting about one year ago when my CD4 count was 13.

It's a fairly hefty dose to take once a week (1200 mg), and guards against MAC.  BTW, just for comparison, "normal" dosing for "normal" respiratory infections is usually 250-500 mg once a day.

I stopped taking it this past December when my CD4 counts maintained > 100 for two consecutive blood draws (5-6 months).

I had no real problems with it, but I needed to eat something because it always caused some slight nausea on an empty stomach (but to be fair, the same thing happens when I take a multivitamin on an empty stomach).

The only potential problem is if you have an allergy to the medicine....itching, hives, difficulty breathing, etc.  So be on the lookout for that, if you've never taken this (or any) medication before.

I developed a severe allergy to Augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulinic acid), an antibiotic I took several years ago.  I was actually taking the drug for about 5 days before my whole body broke out in massive hives.  The doctor told me that the first reaction to a drug can be delayed like this, so be on the lookout for several days after you start taking it.

Good luck to you (and they're quite the 'horse pills' aren't they?  :D)

Take care,
John
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: J.R.E. on February 06, 2007, 08:33:04 pm
Hello Mike,

Oh yes, Zithromax...It has been a while, but I was on azithromycin back in October of 2003 and throughout part of 2004.

This was when I had first started on treatment. At that time I was taking two pills a week. I would take one pill, on a Monday, and the other one on a Thursday. But, I believe the doctor had told me, that both could be taken together. (later on)

I also remember it was a tough medication to handle, but overall did alright with it. At that time, I had just finishes Prednisone, and was on Bactrim, Diflucan, and Valtrex.( besides the HIV meds) T-cell count at that time was 16. I think I took most of my medications back then, with food. It helped ! It can be taken with or without food.

Just remember to drink a lot of water !! Hope things get better for you...


Ray
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: thirtysomething on February 06, 2007, 11:36:25 pm
Zithromax / Azithromycin is an anti-biotic used to treat bacterial infections. I have taken it in past for Pneumonia, Bronchitis. It's easy on the body, no side effects for me atleast!
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: Queen Tokelove on February 07, 2007, 01:22:51 am
Ok, I was about to say...I know I took Zithromax it was when I had bronchitis. 2 the first day and 1 for the next 3 days. I didn't know it was used for MAC...
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: Christine on February 07, 2007, 10:43:32 am
Yes- I take (2) 600mg tablets once a week for MAC prophylactic. At the 1200mg dose, I do experience diarrhea, flushing in my face, and sometimes a little fever. If I feel really crappy after taking it, I will sometimes take a benadryl to help with the reaction.

I have also taken it at 500mg dose for various infections, and at that dose, don't have any kind of reaction to it.

I have to have a letter of medical necessity when I get the prescription filled at the 1200mg dose. Just ask your insurance if they need a letter, that way you can get it filled without any kind of hassle.
Christine
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: tnboy on February 07, 2007, 01:31:52 pm
Thanks to all you Guys for this very helpful information and advise. This med is new to me and it is most helpful to hear from those of you who have experience with it.

 I have been on Septra DS for 5 years now and doc says continue that as well. I have been taking Fluconazole 200 MG Tablets very often as well in the last year because I keep getting thrush.

 Good to know others have experience with these meds and know what I am talking about. I take your advise seriously and appreciate the tips.

Thanks a Million!
Mike
Title: Re: Anyone Ever Taken Azithromycin?
Post by: redhotmuslbear on February 07, 2007, 01:46:46 pm
It's not particularly OI-related, but I take azithromycin 500mg each night, 7 days on then as long as I can stand off, for a lingering issue with my ears.  No ill effects now or when I started originally or with each re-start.  Even with high CD4 counts and percentages, I picked up something about 18 months ago that re-emerges;  and azithromycin appears to be the most cost effective and least involved method of knocking it down.  My ear doc kept me on it for 30 days last winter, but the problem popped up again with a few days off.  Blood tests don't turn up any of the usual suspects.. or even any unusual ones.

Maybe it's the alien implants acting up again?