COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- COPD is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Twelve-million Americans have been diagnosed with the condition, which some know as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Millions more may have COPD and not realize it. Now a pill may help people breathe easier. An antibiotic a day could help keep attacks at bay.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease that clogs airways, causing a chronic cough and a lot of phlegm. Severe symptoms can often flare up suddenly.
"There's been a sense for years that these flares in at least a group of patients with COPD are related to bacterial infections of the lung," said Dr. Fernando Martinez, director of Pulmonary Diagnostic Services at the University of Michigan Health System.
Doctor Martinez is among a group of nationwide researchers studying COPD and the effects of a common antibiotic on the condition. For one year, 570 trial participants took daily doses of the drug azithromycin in addition to their other COPD treatments.
"We were able to demonstrate that you could significantly decrease by more than 20 percent the rate of these flare-ups in at-risk people," said Martinez.
The daily regimen benefits those with moderate to severe symptoms.
Researchers say they were concerned that patients on the daily regimen would develop antibiotic resistance. While the drugs did increase the amount of antibiotic-resistant microbes in some patients, there were no infections reported. Still, more studies will be needed to look at the long-term effects of the antibiotic treatment.
You can watch and listen to the video here if your interested:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health/your_health&id=8530767
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease that clogs airways, causing a chronic cough and a lot of phlegm. Severe symptoms can often flare up suddenly.
"There's been a sense for years that these flares in at least a group of patients with COPD are related to bacterial infections of the lung," said Dr. Fernando Martinez, director of Pulmonary Diagnostic Services at the University of Michigan Health System.
Doctor Martinez is among a group of nationwide researchers studying COPD and the effects of a common antibiotic on the condition. For one year, 570 trial participants took daily doses of the drug azithromycin in addition to their other COPD treatments.
"We were able to demonstrate that you could significantly decrease by more than 20 percent the rate of these flare-ups in at-risk people," said Martinez.
The daily regimen benefits those with moderate to severe symptoms.
Researchers say they were concerned that patients on the daily regimen would develop antibiotic resistance. While the drugs did increase the amount of antibiotic-resistant microbes in some patients, there were no infections reported. Still, more studies will be needed to look at the long-term effects of the antibiotic treatment.
You can watch and listen to the video here if your interested:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health/your_health&id=8530767
I thought this was already an ongoing treatment method for some patients. I am aware tho that different anti biotics prescribed as a COPD maintenance dose can be tailor made for the individual patient.
It's interesting that trials are still being carried out on this.
Thanks for posting this Holly
Wishing you and all an easy breathing day.
When my father was sick with emphysema in the 1980's one of the medications he was treated with was Tetracycline daily so he wouldn't get an infection, it seemed to work.
So my ears perk up every time I hear about long term antibiotic treatment in COPD.
I thought some of you might be interested in this too.
Holly
Pinkmonkey.. the Daliresp looks promising for those it works on.. some folks have some GI or other side effect for about the first 6 weeks and then they seem to lessen to more of a manageable condition. If you can hang with it and if its the right drug for you it appears to provide some real benefits.
Here's a link back to a member here who's thrilled with the results
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/COPD_Emphysema/forum/13651060-daliresp-helping-me
Bacterial infections are hard to treat once they get a good grip so maybe conservative ongoing treatment can be a big benefit for those that seem to have lots of difficulties with repeated exacerbations and hospital stays.
I worry about the antibiotic resistance possibility also as I usually show problems with antibiotics after a few rounds of the same drug.
Yes, I'm the person that loves Daliresp. And right now, I think I'd rather take that, than daily antibiotics. I think that the antibiotic resistance issues are too important to risk. (Of course, I say that having just recovered from a MRSA infection in the lungs, and that is a staph germ that is rapidly mutating and adapting so that it's developing more and more resistance. Scary!)
Hugs, Sue
So thankful for my prescription help because Daliresp here is $300+.