steroid inhalers and Hep C treatment

I have been on interfereon/ribavirin treatment for 8 weeks. I also suffer from a lifetime of sever allergies and allergy induced asthma. I have been sick for 3 weeks and now have pnemonia (pneumonia). I am on my second round of antibiotics and my doc wants me to re-start my flovent 2x/day.

I have read that steroids are bad for treatment and can actually prevent the treatment from working...is this true? Is there any documented evidence I can show to my doctor one way or the other? Flovent is a sytemic steroidal inhaler that I have had good results from in the past but I absolutly can't risk treatment failure! Is there another option to reduce lung immflamation and the releentless coughing that I can take????

Thanks, Donna

[fashion345]

I am on steroid inhalers for Asthma and allergies.  My physicians insisted I stay on those as Asthma can sometimes worsen during TX.
I have 3 weeks left of a 48 wk treatment and asthma has been fine, no worse, however have continued to use my inhalers.  I cleared at 7 weeks and will know soon if still clear.
Your breathing, oxygen levels, and health is important during treatment so most likely the inhalers will help you feel better
Advair  and Flovent do not absorb the way oral steroids would so you should be fine.

Hope that helps!

[RobertBeWell]

Similar situation here, I have some minor seasonal allergies. I asked my doc about the inhalers - he basically said the same thing - no issues - continue use.

[spectda]

I would check with your treating doctor. I had an ent prescribe a steroid nasal spray when I started treatment and my doctor told me not to use it. I don't presume to know the answer, just passing on my experience.

[DonnaK64]

I have trust issues with doctors...I called my GI and he said he "researched" it and it was fine to take. I am taking 1x/day instead of the prescribed 2x and will stop in a couple weeks or when I feel better. I feel like this is my life but only their job. If they are wrong I will die and they still get to keep their jobs. I am stage 4/cirrohsis so treatment failure is a death sentence.
They found a suspicious density on my lung xray, probably pnumonia but will go in for a CT mammogram on Monday to be sure.