Mixing Asthma & HIV Meds

[jennynyc7]

I have had asthma, ironically since surviving 9/11 and had been on albuterol (rescue inhaler) and Advair (maintenance everyday med) up until my HIV diagnosis. When I began meds the HIV pharmacist said I would need to discontinue Advair because the HIV meds would make the steroid component in the Advair more concentrated, therefore possibly causing some unwanted side effects. So, they switched me to Qvar. I had been taking that up until the last day of the year, then my insurance changed (as expected) on 1/1/09 to a high deductible plan, which includes Rx's. So, I called my regular pharmacy to get the cash prices of all of my non-hiv meds and most of them were reasonable except the Qvar which was about $98. So , I called the HIV pharmacy and they are currently researching an alternative to the Qvar. So my question is, does anyone here have asthma, and if so are you on hiv meds + ashtma meds, and which ones do you take.

Thanks!

[LTSurviver]

Hi Jenny,

Have you tried going off the asthma meds and see how you do now?

Just curious.

[jennynyc7]

Oh yeah, that is what I am currently doing since I don't have the money to get a refill. Needless to say I am miserable. Wish it would work out that way for me though, but no such luck. Thanks for the suggestion though!

[LTSurviver]

Jenny,

That's a bummer.    I had hoped you may have no longer needed them.

Have you seen if there is a program who can help you with the cost of the Qvar?  Was that a $98 a month copay?

[jennynyc7]

No, it isn't a co-pay, it is the full price of the medication that I would have to pay since my insurance won't kick in until I have racked up $3000 worth of expenses. I used to have a co-pay of $30 last year, which I even struggled with.

[LTSurviver]

Yikes!    I hope they can find a cheaper option.

[lucas777]

Hi ya!
I suffer from asthma as well, here is my little experience:
I was on Truvada Norvir and Reyataz (back then) for about 2-3 years and all of a sudden I had an asthma attack (at night) never had it before so I didn't know what it was I couldn't  breathe ,somehow I managed to go to hospital just down the road from where I live.(after few hours I was ok.) my GP put me on steroid inhaler called Seretide 250mg 2 puffs 2 times a day. I started experiencing : weight gain (very quick),lethargy, I had problem with urination (increase  frequency) . I had so called 'moon face' and felt just horrible sleepy all the time . Finally they told me that Norvir doesn't go together with the corticosteroids ( result of this interaction- it was blocking my metabolism) They changed me my meds. and everything comes back to norm.   Hope you find it useful.
best wishes
lukas

[lucas777]

..... my doc. changed my hiv meds.  now I'm on Intelence  and Truvada and still taking Seretide.
I tried to stop the seretide but my asthma was coming back I think that my body is addicted to steroids now. (maybe I'm wrong)  anyways thank GOD I still breathe

[BM]

I was on Seretide (Advair) when I began my meds. After reading about a possible interaction between the fluticasone component of my inhaler and my meds, I asked my doctor for an alternative. I was put on a beclometasone dipropionate inhaler at a high dose, and it works just was well. The new inhaler is quite a bit cheaper than the Seretide (Advair) inhaler.

[2005 got the hiv]

Hello hope things are going better for you.  I have had asthma my whole life.  I currently take symbicort.  The worst thing they ever done was take away the old inhalers that were 4 bucks to fill.  All to save us from global warming....Go figure.  Well here are a few things that may help.

1-    Drink plenty of water.  You should be drinking 1/2 body weight in oz.  Exp.  150lb = 75 oz of water.  I read a book "Your not sick you r thirsty"  I was having all kinds of trouble breathing about a week after starting my breathing greatly improved.  I also was able to cut way back on the fast acting inhaler.

2-    Exercise....

3-   Don't smoke.

Take care

FS