Azithromycin treatment for lungs

[Char]

My son was diagnosed 2 years ago at age 11. He has had a wonderful specialist these past two years but the clinic now has seperated into his doctor handling other lung problems and a new CF specialist has come in. She has told me she wanted to start him on azithromycin 250mg 3 days a week. She said that studies show that doing this therapy has shown improvement within the lung capacity. My concern is building a resistance to antibiotics. She assured me that the azithromycin wouldn't cause ammunity to anitbiotics but that doesn't sit well with me and I haven't been able to find any studies on this therapy. He does his TOBI, pulmazyme (sp?) and vest and his lungs are extremely clear and his breathing capacity tests are always near normal. His main problems at this time are sinuses clogging and his pancrease. He is doing his pulmazyme via a face mask which has really improved the sinus blockage and is on enzymes for weight gain. He hardly ever coughs but does get winded easily when running but still doesn't cough.

Has anyone else been told about taking azithromycin for lung improvement or knows where I can find more information about this? His first doctor never said a word about this. Are my concerns about becoming immune to the antibiotics justified? This is a long term treatment and I don't know if long term studies have been done on the effects this might have to the body. I filled the prescription last month but still haven't started him on it because I just can't find anything about this.

Thanks for any responses,

Char

 

[Char]

My son was diagnosed 2 years ago at age 11. He has had a wonderful specialist these past two years but the clinic now has seperated into his doctor handling other lung problems and a new CF specialist has come in. She has told me she wanted to start him on azithromycin 250mg 3 days a week. She said that studies show that doing this therapy has shown improvement within the lung capacity. My concern is building a resistance to antibiotics. She assured me that the azithromycin wouldn't cause ammunity to anitbiotics but that doesn't sit well with me and I haven't been able to find any studies on this therapy. He does his TOBI, pulmazyme (sp?) and vest and his lungs are extremely clear and his breathing capacity tests are always near normal. His main problems at this time are sinuses clogging and his pancrease. He is doing his pulmazyme via a face mask which has really improved the sinus blockage and is on enzymes for weight gain. He hardly ever coughs but does get winded easily when running but still doesn't cough.

Has anyone else been told about taking azithromycin for lung improvement or knows where I can find more information about this? His first doctor never said a word about this. Are my concerns about becoming immune to the antibiotics justified? This is a long term treatment and I don't know if long term studies have been done on the effects this might have to the body. I filled the prescription last month but still haven't started him on it because I just can't find anything about this.

Thanks for any responses,

Char

 

[Char]

My son was diagnosed 2 years ago at age 11. He has had a wonderful specialist these past two years but the clinic now has seperated into his doctor handling other lung problems and a new CF specialist has come in. She has told me she wanted to start him on azithromycin 250mg 3 days a week. She said that studies show that doing this therapy has shown improvement within the lung capacity. My concern is building a resistance to antibiotics. She assured me that the azithromycin wouldn't cause ammunity to anitbiotics but that doesn't sit well with me and I haven't been able to find any studies on this therapy. He does his TOBI, pulmazyme (sp?) and vest and his lungs are extremely clear and his breathing capacity tests are always near normal. His main problems at this time are sinuses clogging and his pancrease. He is doing his pulmazyme via a face mask which has really improved the sinus blockage and is on enzymes for weight gain. He hardly ever coughs but does get winded easily when running but still doesn't cough.

Has anyone else been told about taking azithromycin for lung improvement or knows where I can find more information about this? His first doctor never said a word about this. Are my concerns about becoming immune to the antibiotics justified? This is a long term treatment and I don't know if long term studies have been done on the effects this might have to the body. I filled the prescription last month but still haven't started him on it because I just can't find anything about this.

Thanks for any responses,

Char

 

[vinsmom]

Hi, I have an 8 year old son who's been on the exact same treatments as your son. He's also been on Zith therapy for a year now. His FEV1's have been really high (90's) and he's remained hospital free as well. I had the same concerns as you but have found that his overall health has been better so he hasn't even needed any antibiotics. Give it a shot and see how he does....you can always have him taken off.

 

[vinsmom]

Hi, I have an 8 year old son who's been on the exact same treatments as your son. He's also been on Zith therapy for a year now. His FEV1's have been really high (90's) and he's remained hospital free as well. I had the same concerns as you but have found that his overall health has been better so he hasn't even needed any antibiotics. Give it a shot and see how he does....you can always have him taken off.

 

[vinsmom]

Hi, I have an 8 year old son who's been on the exact same treatments as your son. He's also been on Zith therapy for a year now. His FEV1's have been really high (90's) and he's remained hospital free as well. I had the same concerns as you but have found that his overall health has been better so he hasn't even needed any antibiotics. Give it a shot and see how he does....you can always have him taken off.

 

[Diane]

I used to take Zithromax every other day years ago when they first started using it for inflammation purposes ( thats pretty much what they use this regimen for). I hve since been switched to Biaxin for the same prupose. BIaxin and Zithromax have the same properties and both reduce inflammation, except with zithromax you take it mon. wed. and fri., the biaxin i take every day twice a day, which for me is way easier to remember. A lot of people on the zithromax regimen are having very good results and would swear by it . There are a lot of studies that have been donw on the zithromax regimen, but i dont have any links to any of them but i'll bet someone on here does.

 

[Diane]

I used to take Zithromax every other day years ago when they first started using it for inflammation purposes ( thats pretty much what they use this regimen for). I hve since been switched to Biaxin for the same prupose. BIaxin and Zithromax have the same properties and both reduce inflammation, except with zithromax you take it mon. wed. and fri., the biaxin i take every day twice a day, which for me is way easier to remember. A lot of people on the zithromax regimen are having very good results and would swear by it . There are a lot of studies that have been donw on the zithromax regimen, but i dont have any links to any of them but i'll bet someone on here does.

 

[Diane]

I used to take Zithromax every other day years ago when they first started using it for inflammation purposes ( thats pretty much what they use this regimen for). I hve since been switched to Biaxin for the same prupose. BIaxin and Zithromax have the same properties and both reduce inflammation, except with zithromax you take it mon. wed. and fri., the biaxin i take every day twice a day, which for me is way easier to remember. A lot of people on the zithromax regimen are having very good results and would swear by it . There are a lot of studies that have been donw on the zithromax regimen, but i dont have any links to any of them but i'll bet someone on here does.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS is 3 1/2 years old and has been on Zithromax for over a year. At the time it was "Great, not another medication to keep track of..." He's also on Tobi for pseudo and pulmozyme... The purpose of zithromax isn't for use as an antibiotic per se, but to help with inflammation, help with lung function. Our CF doctor is also an infectious disease specialist, so he knows his bugs and keeps up on things like antibiotic resistance. He also mentioned it might help with the HIB that DS tends to culture on occaison.

There were a number of articles about it when it was approved for use on CFers. You may want to check the CFF.org site where it was mentioned numerous times.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS is 3 1/2 years old and has been on Zithromax for over a year. At the time it was "Great, not another medication to keep track of..." He's also on Tobi for pseudo and pulmozyme... The purpose of zithromax isn't for use as an antibiotic per se, but to help with inflammation, help with lung function. Our CF doctor is also an infectious disease specialist, so he knows his bugs and keeps up on things like antibiotic resistance. He also mentioned it might help with the HIB that DS tends to culture on occaison.

There were a number of articles about it when it was approved for use on CFers. You may want to check the CFF.org site where it was mentioned numerous times.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS is 3 1/2 years old and has been on Zithromax for over a year. At the time it was "Great, not another medication to keep track of..." He's also on Tobi for pseudo and pulmozyme... The purpose of zithromax isn't for use as an antibiotic per se, but to help with inflammation, help with lung function. Our CF doctor is also an infectious disease specialist, so he knows his bugs and keeps up on things like antibiotic resistance. He also mentioned it might help with the HIB that DS tends to culture on occaison.

There were a number of articles about it when it was approved for use on CFers. You may want to check the CFF.org site where it was mentioned numerous times.

 

[NoExcuses]

Many studies have been done on Zithro's effects on PA.

I too was extremely concerned about using zithro long term. However, macrolides are used to treat mild to moderate Strep Pneumo, H. Flu, M. Cat, & Staph for patients without CF. When CFers use antibiotics, we don't use them to treat any of those bacteria, typically. It's usually PA that we're concerned with.

Studies show that zithro reduces inflammation in the lungs. So zithro in this case isn't being used as a typical antibiotic (to kill the bacteria).

Honestly, you should be more concerned with TOBI resistance. If your son happens to be colonized with H. Flu or Strep or Staph, there are many many many other classes of antibiotics that can treat H. Flu or Strep. Ketolides, Penicillins, Cephilasporins, Beta-lactams, Sulfas, Quinolones, Aminoglycosides, Tetracyclins, and the list goes on and on and on and on.

But if you need to treat PA? Some Beta lactams are mildly effective such as Aztreonam, and cephilasporins are mildly effective such as Ceftaz, and then we have Cipro that works for some (quinolone) and the Aminoglycoside Tobra. And that's about it.

So go on the Zithro. It works well and will preserve lung function.

Here are a few studies to look at:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16809416&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...=1&itool=pubmed_docsum</a> <b>Conclusion:</b> Long term use of low dose azithromycin in young patients with cystic fibrosis has a beneficial effect on lung disease expression, even before infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16641435&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum
">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...1&itool=pubmed_docsum
</a>
there are many many more studies.... just go to www.pubmed.gov and type in "azithromycin cystic fibrosis"

 

[NoExcuses]

Many studies have been done on Zithro's effects on PA.

I too was extremely concerned about using zithro long term. However, macrolides are used to treat mild to moderate Strep Pneumo, H. Flu, M. Cat, & Staph for patients without CF. When CFers use antibiotics, we don't use them to treat any of those bacteria, typically. It's usually PA that we're concerned with.

Studies show that zithro reduces inflammation in the lungs. So zithro in this case isn't being used as a typical antibiotic (to kill the bacteria).

Honestly, you should be more concerned with TOBI resistance. If your son happens to be colonized with H. Flu or Strep or Staph, there are many many many other classes of antibiotics that can treat H. Flu or Strep. Ketolides, Penicillins, Cephilasporins, Beta-lactams, Sulfas, Quinolones, Aminoglycosides, Tetracyclins, and the list goes on and on and on and on.

But if you need to treat PA? Some Beta lactams are mildly effective such as Aztreonam, and cephilasporins are mildly effective such as Ceftaz, and then we have Cipro that works for some (quinolone) and the Aminoglycoside Tobra. And that's about it.

So go on the Zithro. It works well and will preserve lung function.

Here are a few studies to look at:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16809416&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...=1&itool=pubmed_docsum</a> <b>Conclusion:</b> Long term use of low dose azithromycin in young patients with cystic fibrosis has a beneficial effect on lung disease expression, even before infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16641435&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum
">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...1&itool=pubmed_docsum
</a>
there are many many more studies.... just go to www.pubmed.gov and type in "azithromycin cystic fibrosis"

 

[NoExcuses]

Many studies have been done on Zithro's effects on PA.

I too was extremely concerned about using zithro long term. However, macrolides are used to treat mild to moderate Strep Pneumo, H. Flu, M. Cat, & Staph for patients without CF. When CFers use antibiotics, we don't use them to treat any of those bacteria, typically. It's usually PA that we're concerned with.

Studies show that zithro reduces inflammation in the lungs. So zithro in this case isn't being used as a typical antibiotic (to kill the bacteria).

Honestly, you should be more concerned with TOBI resistance. If your son happens to be colonized with H. Flu or Strep or Staph, there are many many many other classes of antibiotics that can treat H. Flu or Strep. Ketolides, Penicillins, Cephilasporins, Beta-lactams, Sulfas, Quinolones, Aminoglycosides, Tetracyclins, and the list goes on and on and on and on.

But if you need to treat PA? Some Beta lactams are mildly effective such as Aztreonam, and cephilasporins are mildly effective such as Ceftaz, and then we have Cipro that works for some (quinolone) and the Aminoglycoside Tobra. And that's about it.

So go on the Zithro. It works well and will preserve lung function.

Here are a few studies to look at:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16809416&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...=1&itool=pubmed_docsum</a> <b>Conclusion:</b> Long term use of low dose azithromycin in young patients with cystic fibrosis has a beneficial effect on lung disease expression, even before infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16641435&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum
">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...1&itool=pubmed_docsum
</a>
there are many many more studies.... just go to www.pubmed.gov and type in "azithromycin cystic fibrosis"

 

[Char]

Thank you for responding. I do get paranoid whenever a new drug is prescribed for him. After enduring years of being sick and being misdiagnosed as to what was causing his illnesses and being on so many different drugs to "cure" him I just hate to introduce another pill. He was on so many different antibiotics a few months before his diagnosis that when his gastro doc went in for a stomache probe on him, he told me that it was like his stomache was a huge ulcer most likely caused by the meds. It was the worse case he had seen which broke my heart. OK, I will start him on the treatment and appreciate the information. The TOBI does concern me in the long run but is thre something else that works as well?

Thanks so much,

Char

 

[Char]

Thank you for responding. I do get paranoid whenever a new drug is prescribed for him. After enduring years of being sick and being misdiagnosed as to what was causing his illnesses and being on so many different drugs to "cure" him I just hate to introduce another pill. He was on so many different antibiotics a few months before his diagnosis that when his gastro doc went in for a stomache probe on him, he told me that it was like his stomache was a huge ulcer most likely caused by the meds. It was the worse case he had seen which broke my heart. OK, I will start him on the treatment and appreciate the information. The TOBI does concern me in the long run but is thre something else that works as well?

Thanks so much,

Char

 

[Char]

Thank you for responding. I do get paranoid whenever a new drug is prescribed for him. After enduring years of being sick and being misdiagnosed as to what was causing his illnesses and being on so many different drugs to "cure" him I just hate to introduce another pill. He was on so many different antibiotics a few months before his diagnosis that when his gastro doc went in for a stomache probe on him, he told me that it was like his stomache was a huge ulcer most likely caused by the meds. It was the worse case he had seen which broke my heart. OK, I will start him on the treatment and appreciate the information. The TOBI does concern me in the long run but is thre something else that works as well?

Thanks so much,

Char

 

[Rebjane]

Not to change the subject of this thread, but do you need to culture PA for zithromax to provide inflammation benefit to the lungs? My daughter has not yet cultured PA but regularly cultures MRSA. She does have inflamation issues in her upper airway and i've wondered about zithromax but haven't really researched it yet.

 

[Rebjane]

Not to change the subject of this thread, but do you need to culture PA for zithromax to provide inflammation benefit to the lungs? My daughter has not yet cultured PA but regularly cultures MRSA. She does have inflamation issues in her upper airway and i've wondered about zithromax but haven't really researched it yet.