What new med does she want you to take?

hi missouri

It's another DMARD called minocin. This one has some anti-biotic built into it. My Rheumy thinks this might be the drug that will give it that little extra boost to reduce the inflamation in my joints.

you know I try really hard to stay upbeat. I know my husband is much more comfortable when I'm happy and not complaining, but I thought this morning that my life is becoming like the treadmill I just did my excercises on. I'm going as fast as I can, doing everything I can think of to get healthy and I'm just going nowhere.

I'm starting to feel jealous of healthy people and I don't like the way that feels.

I bought a juicer recently and decided to try a juice cleanse for a week to see how I feel (has anyone seen Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead?) I doubt it will make any difference.

So Missouri...welcome to my pity party! Sometimes I think that you guys are the only ones who understand how I feel...Thanks!

Minocin is not a dimard it is an antibotic. I have been on it 200 mg a day for over ten years. Taking an antibotic goes hand in hand with the premise that possibly RA is caused by something bacterial. If that is true then a low dose antibotic in your system will netter help you treat the cause. I take MTX injectable, minocycline, folic acid and rituxan. I stopped all those other DIMARDS years ago because they didn't work. I admire your doc for looking at minocin as a crediable drug. When I began it my rhuemy was hesitant in that it could help me. As I have told others in the past it did put me into a remission early on) and now it helps to keep me healthy. Something very important with a weakened immune system. I used to get ashtmatic bronchitous twice a year and nevr get it anymore.

Ultimately though, this is your body. Therefore it is your duty to esearch any and all drugs that your doc wants you take. Your body is your temple and you have the final say what you want to put into it. If you don't want to take the minocin just say no! Don't let your doc imtimidate you!

If you take a look at the following site you will find a lot of good information about the use of antibiotics with RA. I took Minocin (Minocycline) and went into remission when I was first diagnosed. Unfortunately, I developed a rare reaction to it and had to stop. Just killed me, but I had no choice. Anyway, I'm a big believer in the antibiotic approach and its a rare rheumy who'll even consider it. I think that's great! Hope you get good results.

www.roadback.org

I took the Minocycline for 2 months, but had to stop. I tried hard to get used it, but I was feeling dizzy all the time from the med. I read that some doctors do not prescribe Minocycline to female patients becuase women tend to have the diziness as one of the typical side effects from it. I wish I could continue taking it as it is mild to your body, and it seemed like it was effective to my condition, but I just couldn't deal with the dizziness. Everyone is different, so I hope it will work for you.

thanks for the good information, guys. You really helped allay my fears...and thanks also for letting me vent a little. I do have a great rheumy (actually she is the CNP), and I know she will leave no stone unturned in trying to get me healthy. I geuss from reading some of the other entries, I'm very lucky in that respect.

Minocin (minocyclline) as the others said is an antibiotic and is in the same drug class I believe as tetracycline and doxycycline. I was on it as a teenager and in my early 20's for acne, and had no problems.

For those that take it or have in the past, bizemom or WVMel, have you had any problems with yeast infections?

Hello. I'm on MTX and asked my Rheumy to add Minocin to see if I could get results. Two months in- nothing yet, but I'm still hoping for good things!

The best part is that it is generally safer than many of the other medications (watch out for Minocin induced Lupus a rare but serious side effect). I hope it helps you also!