Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Antibiotics for treatment of RA

Lifeis2short
Lifeis2short
I have been doing some research and found that there are Dr's that treat RA with low dose antibiotics. Clinical trials show positive results. Has anyone's RA been treated with antibiotics? Also, I had to see my DO instead of my regular Dr a few weeks ago and I was really upset because all the medications are making me sick. She told me that hardly anyone becomes crippled or seriously impaired these days because of all of the great medications they have now. Is this true? I was only diagnosed a short time ago and am confused on all of this. Thanks!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi L2S,

Welcome to DS but sorry that it's RA that has brought you here.

I'll share with you my little knowledge of what I know................ yes, Minocycline antibiotics are taken by some with RA. As it is unknown how RA is caused, some believe that RA is a result of an infection & that the antibiotic helps this. I know of one poster called bizemomm who is on this & some others are trying to find Dr to help them. Check out site called roadback foundation that explains this more. Also, do a search under minocycline or antibiotic therapy in discussions section of DS & you'll find out more.

What med's are you on? When you say 'making me sick', do you mean side-effects or stomach problems due to med's? Are you on anything to protect your stomach?

Most people respond well to RA med's & some would say they have returned to a normal life. But many struggle with finding the right drug & only a few do not respond to RA drugs. I have had too many serious side-effects so am only trying conservative med's. Many Dr's are very positive that their patients will find right drugs.

Cheers, Anna
puffster
puffster
I was given Minocycline this week and my RA dr wants me to start it in two weeks. I had some allergy reactions to other meds, and am currently on Plaquenil only. I also have positive TB test due to the BCG (live vaccine) I had when I was a litte kid, so my Dr. doesn't want me to take any stronger meds that may cause the TB to become active. If the Minocycline doesn't work, I will start taking another meds to treat the TB before I can start other medications. I just read the side effects of Minocycline, and I am about to tell my Dr that I do not want to take it. I found out that it can cause vestibular disturbances with dizziness, ataxia, vertigo and tinnitus for 50-70% of women, and this is why women nornally do not take this medication. I already have existing tinnitus problem, and I don't want that to get worse. My Dr said this is one of the weakest RA meds, but the some other side effects are bit scary such as blue-gray skin (permanent blue discoloration of gums) or teeth discoloration. I know most of RA Meds have pretty bad side effects, but I am not sure about this one either....
deleted_user
deleted_user
So sorry about your RA. I did try minocycline for about a year and 1/2, I felt it was safer than the biologics my rheumy wanted to put me on (and way less expensive). That therapy helped a little but after giving it that much time, and missing out on my kids growing up I reluctantly went with Enbrel. I think if you start earlier into the disease than I did it might be more effect. There is also a book you can read that explains this protocol very well but I can't remember the name of it, if you go onto the roadback site and ask someone will give you the name of it. I do have tinnitus TRULY A NIGHTMARE) but I just developed that this year, 3 years after I stopped the antibiotic so I don't think it was from the minocycline at all, in fact I think it was from the Methotrexate I've been on for five years but nobody really knows. Good luck.
suera