Patients who fail therapy after taking the 3 standard medicines (clarithromycin/azithromycin, rifampin/rifabutin, and ethambutol) are usually required to take additional medicines (such as injectables or “shots”) which may be effective. While taking these medicines, routine laboratory tests to check kidneys and liver along with a complete blood count (CBC) should be performed, at least routinely for the first six months. The first three drugs are pills/capsules and may be given daily or three times weekly (Monday-Wednesday-Friday). Streptomycin (Strep) or Amikacin (Amikin) Rifampin (Rifadin) or Rifabutin (Mycobutin) + Ethambutol (Myambutol) The drugs include:Ĭlarithromycin (Biaxin) or Azithromycin (Zithromax) Standard treatment of MAC recommended by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a combination of 3 or 4 drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Use of only one or two drugs may result in the development of mutations in the MAC so they become resistant to the drugs. Treatment of MAC requires a multidrug regimen as MAC is resistant to most ordinary antibiotics.
