Low dose antibotics are yet another alternative way to treat RA. I am a proponenyt of these. I take 200 mg of minocycline daily and have for over a decade. That drug single handedly put me into a remission in the beginning of my RA diagnosis. Then I needed to add MTX ( injectable form) and I remained pretty stable for a very long time. Then my rhuem wanted to wean me off minocycline and I went into a mother of a flare. My rhuemy immediately put me back on minocycline but now I have moved onto the heavy guns and am also on rituxan. Those who believe that RA stems from or is triggered by a bacterial infection in your body believe in antibotic theraphy. The low dose allows your body to keep that bacteria at bay, thus controling your RA. There are those that endorse the idea and there are nay sayers. My rhuemy was a naysayer until she saw how I flared uncntrollably once off the antibotic. She quickly came yto the judgement that it helps me aqnd was willing to go back to it full force. The doctor who discovered the link between RA and antibotics wrote a book and it is at the local library. His name escapes me but if you google antibotic theraphy and RA his name should pop up. Hope this helps answer your question.

Wow that is interesting bizemomm. I am going to research further and mention to my rhuemy. thanks for your help...

When I was first Dxed 6 years ago I did AP (antibiotic protocol). I went into remission within four months and had a wonderful year. Unfortunately, I developed a reaction to the Minocycline called Minocycline Induced Lupus. I wound up in the hospital very sick and had to stop taking it. I tried it again a few months later and one pill caused the symptoms of the Lupus to start up again. I was on Prednisone for two years after that and now things have gotten pretty bad and I'm on Methotrexate for the first time. I wish I could have staying on the Minocycline forever. If you want to read more about it the best site is www.roadback.org. Good luck!

The reason that my rhuemy wanted me off mino in the place was because she feared it could induce lupus as MVmel indictated. In my case I have not had any bad residual effects of the antibotic protocol. The hidden bonus of it is that it helps me to stay relatively healthy too. I used to get 2 bad ashtmatic bronchicial attacks a year ( at the change of seasons) and have not suffered from those episodes since beginning the antibotics.

Since starting MTX I have had a never ending sinus/bronchitis infection. I was on antibiodic back in december and I felt so much better. Seeing this MTX knocks the hell out of our immune system I don't see the harm in this. I am going to ask my dr. her opinion when I see her in 2 weeks. I would be interested in trying this therapy.

The RA site that explains the whole antibiotic therapy is roadback.org. Go to the webite and you will see the history of antibiotic therapy and who discovered it. Many RA sufferers swear by it. I found it fascinating. I took a low dose of it a while back and did not feel any difference, but my RA is not really rapant and I am not on biologics. Just take advil and Vitamin D and eaingt heathly and avoiding sugars. Also look into an alkaline vs, acid body. You will be amazed at all the foods that cause inflammation including milk. Good luck.