Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
This may seem a little far fetch for many of you but i have a theory and want to hear whether or not any of you have heard of it in the research im sure many of you have done into this disease.
I have stumbled upon today that they have found that those who come into contact with Penicillin who have rheumatoid arthritis can develop myasthenic like symptoms. The penicillin seems to be the cause in these sort of cases.
My doctors have found an RA factor in my blood although they have settled to not diagnose with me with RA due to having none of the symptoms.
Does anyone know anything about this? Has anyone stumbled upon this in their search of information?
I have stumbled upon today that they have found that those who come into contact with Penicillin who have rheumatoid arthritis can develop myasthenic like symptoms. The penicillin seems to be the cause in these sort of cases.
My doctors have found an RA factor in my blood although they have settled to not diagnose with me with RA due to having none of the symptoms.
Does anyone know anything about this? Has anyone stumbled upon this in their search of information?
Penicillamine (which is made by the same organism) is NOT the same as penicillin. Penicillamine is something we shouldn't take. As antibiotics go, penicillin is not on the bad list. Penicillamine is a drug that has been used to treat RA and has caused problems for myasthenics. I wish they would make distinctive drug names so there is less confusion.
b.
Some studies show that taking D-Penicillamine long term (for the autoimmune disease-- rheumatoid arthritis) a number of people get Myasthenia Gravis symptoms, that will go away months after the medicine is discontinued. Generally this is reported as "reversible" MG. It is listed as a side effect of the drug. D-Pen. MG is seropositive, meaning the person does have the the bad antibodies.
An article that discusses many drugs which can give MG like symptoms or make MG worse discusses D-Pen.
http://www.ispub.com/journal/the-internet-journal-of-neurology/volume-10-number-2/drugs-which-may-exacerbate-or-induce-myasthenia-gravis-a-clinician-s-guide.html#sthash.ykT3l3kG.dpbs
Obviously i have not been exposed to penicillamine.