Hi, I have been sick for two weeks. I went to the doctor last Tuesday, 10 days into my illness, with a lot of coughing, sick phlegm and rumbling in my chest. My doctor said I had Bronchitis and gave me a "Z-Pak" to prevent a secondary infection. Yesterday was my last day of the Z-Pak. Even though I feel a little better, the rumbling in my chest has not gone away and I am still coughing a little. I have been sleeping with a humidifier and seems to help. I am also using Asmanex, a steroid inhaler. I am worried that the rumbling in my chest is not going away. Should I call my doctor for another round of Z-Pak or should I wait a couple of more days? Does the the Z-Pak continue to work in your body for a few more days after the package is finished?
I would appreciate your suggestion. Thank you in advance.
How do I know if I need to take anther round of Zithromax?
Question posted by Amylogamy on 17 Feb 2013
Last updated on 19 November 2016 by eddiealex
5 Answers
I have found out that doctors are not always knowledgeable about the drugs they prescribe. I have recurring bronchitis and a somewhat compromised immune system due to a past EBV virus infection. Usual the doctors have prescribed two Z-packs to be taken about two weeks apart at the normal prescribed rate of two pills the first day and one pill for the next four days. This is common practice and probably what the drug vendor told them was how to prescribe it. After reading the paperwork that comes inside the Z-pack I found out that I should probably be taking two pills a day for three days as this is what is recommended for recurring bronchitis. This probably gives you higher serum levels in your blood to help knock out the bronchitis. A refill for the Z-pack should be given and taken about ten days after the initial dosages if you still have lingering symptoms. I have found that a second Z-pack is necessary for my situation.
For the rumbling in the chest, you just need to cough it up. Drink lots of water and take some guaifenesin to help loosen the phlegm. I am not a doctor, but do study about health and medicine as I am considering a career in medicine. I hope this helps.
Hello. I suggest that you work hard to expel the congestion with an expectorant. The damage caused by a pneumonia and bronchitis does not go away. So you have a very good reason to get the gunk out.
If you start getting short of breath when sitting or walking, please call your doctor. If you can't talk without drawing a breath every few words, get in to a doctor right away.
It also helps to sleep sitting up or elevated. This helps the lungs to get more air. If you start running a fever over 101 go to doctor that day or ER. The infection is now a pneumonia and this is serious as they progress rapidly.
Otherwise, cough, rest and wait for the z pak to do its work. Hope you are much better soon. Karen
Hi,
Thanks everybody for all of your help and suggestions. I started feeling better last Sunday the day I finished my Z-Pak. Today is Wednesday and I would say I feel 95% myself again. I am still using my Asmanex inhaler once a day and sleeping with a humidifier. I also got the Musinex but I only had to use it for a couple of days.
I believe it is true that your lungs get damaged every time you get a bad infection like this one. I had Wooping Cough three or four years ago so I think that is why I got so sick this time.
Thanks again.
Dear amylogamy.
Hello. The others are correct. It still works about ten days, and I have a really bad sinus infection right now. On his way home last night, my husband stopped at CVS and told the pharmacist all of my symptom, and they highly recommend Mucinex Max. Until I get to theDr. Tomorrow. It was for cold and sinus by the way. It won't kill the infection I know I have, but it works great. As far as the Zithromax, my Dr.before and the one now always calls it in with a refill. He said not only for if by the fifth day, and I'm not feeling any better, to get the other one filled. I always had too, and finally got tired of paying far two scripts, and switched to another one that worked as well, and only had to pay for one med. but I have Reoccuring sinus infections and their bad. Good luck to you, and hopefully if you don't get them often, you won't have to do that if you feel better in a couple of days. Get well soon, and best wishes! Your Friend, Ruthie
Another way to get the phlem out is to breathe deeply- just have a box of tissue to spit in. A Z-pack is supposed to work for 10-14 days-so it keeps working for about 8 days after you stop using it. I love them-sort of spoiled me. here we'll take a person out for a walk, so they cough stuff out. We believe that hard work will get the poison out. Mucinex is good. Try sitting and take as many deep breathes as you can take- hold it and the mucous will come out. I do that routinely anyway, as it helps my lungs as I get older. Also, if you have stomach acid, that can cause mucous and rattling. Hope that you get well soon.
zithromycin keeps working even after you finish the medication. Did the doc tell you to use a steroid inhaler? Steroids can cause you not to be able to fight infection as well. You need to cough up that stuff in your chest as much as possible and the rumbling will stop, its mucous moving. I would suggest something like mucinex to thin the mucous and get it out of there. Drink alot of water too. It will make you cough alot, that is a good thing. Its because its getting the mucous out of there.
Hi kaismama,
Thanks for your reply. Yes the doctor was the one prescribing the steroid inhaler which was a miracle drug when I had Wopping cough three years ago. I would get the Mucinex. Thanks again
Related topics
Further information
- Zithromax uses and safety info
- Zithromax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zithromax (detailed)
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