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I'm having yet another moderate COPD infection flare up - I read it comes more often as age increases so I'm learning to live with the taste of infection in my throat and lungs. I'm just coming towards the end of my third consultant advised heavier than usual duty antibiotic treatment with a prednisolone course now completed too this time. The antibiotic courses have been 2x Doxycycline and now have one Clarithromycin 8 day course 500mg tab remaining. This has been going on for about 6 to 8 weeks now. I know I sometimes initially leave it longer than ideal in case my body manages to clear it up itself. I use the Systmonline medication request facility to request meds from the health centre when needed and will continue to endure it rather than risk hospital attendance during Covid 19 pandemic. I don't currently have an unused rescue pack. So to my question really: Are Doxycycline and Clarithromycin cheaper than usual 'go to drugs' rather than a more effective treatment being a last option sort of thing and is there something particular I ought to request? I try to avoid phoning the health centre as that can take hours to get a reply. Each course of antibiotic has seen the symptoms initially almost clear up but return before the whole course has been completed as per advice. This sounds to me like I've become either dangerously resistant to anti's - or the current infection type doesn't respond to those variations. When I make a request I usually get a call from the chemist but if he gets no answer when he rings he only tries a second time... I don't generally carry my mobile with me.... i keep forgetting it. I imagine there would be current difficulty presenting a sputum sample at this time too.