Antibiotics three times weekly for asthma

I've been taking Azithromycin for five years - three times a week for six months each year and then three months off (in the summer). Before I started this régime I was having chest infections every month and several spells in hospital. I also take a steroid inhaler twice a day. It's made such a difference to my health and so far have had no side effects. Hope it works for you.

Thanks for your encouraging and positive reply Nanamaz. I'm so hoping for a good outcome from this....I'm very tired of constant infections. Consultant says I take the prize for the amount of different types of flora I've cultivated, latest is haemophilus influenzaea which I'm about to be vaccinated against. I shall be keeping fingers crossed for a few good months.

I have been on Azithromycin three times a week for the last five years. After repeated chest infections, it was discovered not only do I have chronic asthma (had it for 40 years), I also have bronchiectasis. I have had a very positive response to taking them, with less chest infections over the winter months. I will be taking them for the rest of my life, as well as three other inhalers. If I do have an infection, I come off them, take a different antibiotic and the go back on them when things settle down. I have never had any side effects from them.

I am as fit as a flea compared with you folks, but you might have some ideas for me. I have recently been diagnosed with adult asthma. It all arose because I had been coughing, especially at night, for about 8 months - a wheezy, really annoying cough. I had a chest x-ray which showed "hyperinflation" of both lungs. This led to peak flow tests which were very up and down but not seriously awry. I was given a "reliever" inhaler with spacer, and when I get the cough badly it does work. GP then wanted me to have steroid inhaler twice a day, but this made me lose my voice.

I feel inclined just to stick with the reliever as and when - which is about 3 times a week.

What do you experienced asthma folk think?

Luckygirl, there are many different steroid inhalers. Sometimes you have to try a few until you find one which suits. I used to lose my voice on a regular basis, (I was a teacher so it was a bit of a pain), as my steroid inhaler caused thrush in my throat. The trick is to gargle after taking it.
I recently saw a cystic fibrosis consultant, as I have been found to be a carrier of the cystic fibrosis gene. He changed my steroid one to Relvar, the highest dose. I have absolutely no problems with it. I feel better than I have in ages.
In my opinion, you have to weigh it all up. A steroid inhaler, taken regularly and as prescribed, can for many people, help reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. I have been on three inhalers for 40 years and am still here to tell the tale. Forty years ago, when first diagnosed with late onset asthma, I was in intensive care for 6 weeks and it was thought I would not pull through! The wonder of our NHS
Is it worth going back and speaking to your GP?
Hope you feel better soon.

Marydoll - I have pm'd you. I too am a CF carrier and have long been convinced that carriers are no symptom free.