Living Well With NTM Living Well With NTM | Page 10

LIVING WELL WITH NTM
Types of Medications
There are three kinds of drugs to treat
NTM lung disease:
• Oral Medications. These include
pills taken by mouth.
• Intravenous (IV) Medications.
These enter the body through a
vein. Some IV treatments can
be completed at home. Other
IV treatment must be given in a
hospital or clinic.
Treatment Protocols
Different NTM species require different
treatments:
•
8
M. avium complex (MAC) and
M. kansasii, the most common
causes of pulmonary NTM disease,
require three drugs given either 3
days a week or daily. The timing
depends on the severity of disease.
•
Inhaled Medications. These
enter the body with a nebulizer.
Side effects of drugs are common.
Most people can finish the prescribed
treatment.
•
M. abscessus treatment is
more complicated and has poorer
outcomes compared to MAC and
M. kansasii. Many people need
several months of tre