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Safe to take antibiotics while on HepC meds?

Has anyone been told NOT to take antibiotics with hepC treatment medications?  I went to my primary dr. yesterday because I have such a nasty cough (have had it for over a month). I was under the impression that the copagus (riba) pills can cause an on going cough but mine was getting worse. My dr. seems to think that I have bronchitis and has prescribed a very powerful antibiotic called levaquin that I will take for 5 days. He also acknowledged the constant coughing deal with taking riba but told me that I have a bronchial infection.

Any comments from others who have had to take antibiotics during treatment? I can't find anything in the material supplied with pegasys or copagus regarding use of antibiotics.
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Avatar universal
I took a 10 day course of zithromax during treatment due to similar respiratory problems.  I had no adverse effects.  I also took a round of keflex shortly after treatment for an infection.  Once again no adverse effects.  I had far more problems with antibiotics before I started treatment.  Just a note that the respiratory problems (coughing and out of breath) that occurred thru much of therapy went away very quickly after ending TX.  Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
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Avatar universal
Hello,
TX related coughing can be from the ribavirin or from anemia.  The riba cough is just a stubborn thing, and a cough suppressant such as DextroMethorphan (a single ingredient med) may help, especially at night.  If the cough is from anemia, it is the body's response to trying to get more oxygen carried around your body by too little hemoglobin.  In both cases, your chest, etc. will sound clear, and chest X-Rays show clear.
If the doctor heard noises in your bronchial system, if he detected liquid in your lungs (pneumonia), or if you have thick, opaque mucus, you are dealing with a potentially serious upper respiratory infection (URI).  In that case, antibiotics may be necessary.  
Maj Neni
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Avatar universal
After about 4 months on tx my whole family came down with a little cough. They all got over it in 3 days. Mine stayed on....and got worse. I did not pay close enough attention to it and found myself in the hospital on Fathers Day with pneumonia. I was nebulized a lot and was given Keflex I think for 5 days. DO NOT ignore a cough. Our immune systems are shot on this stuff. That round of antibiotics did not affect my counts much.
BUT THEN....
At about 9 months into tx I had some dental problems. The dentist put me on TWO 10 day rounds of Pennicillian. I ended up having the teeth pulled anyways but the antibiotics really nailed my white counts. To the point where I had to go on a reduced Peg dose for a month. I'm not sure if it was the TYPE of antibiotics ar the TIME but it did cause problems for me.
You really have little choice though if you have a bacterial infection. With a low immune system you cannot fight it off on your own. Personally, I think a 5 or 7 day course would be ok.
Best of luck...........
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