INFO - Mayo Clinic: RA treatment: can antibiotics reduce symptoms?

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MayoClinic.com

Ask an Arthritis Specialist

Last updated May 2006

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment: Can antibiotics reduce symptoms?

Question:

What is Mayo Clinic's opinion on the use of antibiotics in rheumatoid

arthritis treatment?

- / Canada

Mayo Clinic rheumatologist April Chang-, M.D., and colleagues answer

select questions from readers.

Answer:

Researchers continue to explore the possibility that rheumatoid arthritis

may be triggered by some form of infection. If true, it may be possible to

prevent or stop the progression of the disease by taking an antibiotic.

However, studies of the usefulness of antibiotic therapy for rheumatoid

arthritis have produced mixed results. Here are some conclusions:

Minocycline. Research indicates that minocycline may be effective in

treating mild rheumatoid arthritis.

Doxycycline. One small study suggests that methotrexate combined with

doxycycline may be more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than is

methotrexate alone.

Tetracycline and clindamycin. One small study reports that

tetracycline combined with intravenous clindamycin may provide modest

benefit to people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Dapsone. This antibiotic may be effective in treating rheumatoid

arthritis; however, its adverse effects, such as hemolytic anemia, outweigh

any potential benefits of the drug.

Rifampin. This medication is not effective in treating rheumatoid

arthritis.

Antibiotics have many potential side effects, some serious. Also, the

effects of long-term antibiotic use are unknown. More research is needed to

determine what, if any, role antibiotics play in rheumatoid arthritis

treatment.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment/AN01358

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

Interesting to see Dapsone listed here. My first rheumy gave me an Rx

for it after I failed on Plaquenil. I didn't have a lot of confidence

in this rheumy and never filled it.

Sierra

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@...>

wrote:

>

> MayoClinic.com

> Ask an Arthritis Specialist

> Last updated May 2006

>

>

> Rheumatoid arthritis treatment: Can antibiotics reduce symptoms?

>

>

>

> Question:

>

> What is Mayo Clinic's opinion on the use of antibiotics in

rheumatoid

> arthritis treatment?

>

> - / Canada

>

>

>

> Mayo Clinic rheumatologist April Chang-, M.D., and colleagues

answer

> select questions from readers.

>

> Answer:

>

> Researchers continue to explore the possibility that rheumatoid

arthritis

> may be triggered by some form of infection. If true, it may be

possible to

> prevent or stop the progression of the disease by taking an

antibiotic.

> However, studies of the usefulness of antibiotic therapy for

rheumatoid

> arthritis have produced mixed results. Here are some conclusions:

>

>

> Minocycline. Research indicates that minocycline may be effective in

> treating mild rheumatoid arthritis.

>

> Doxycycline. One small study suggests that methotrexate combined

with

> doxycycline may be more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis

than is

> methotrexate alone.

>

> Tetracycline and clindamycin. One small study reports that

> tetracycline combined with intravenous clindamycin may provide

modest

> benefit to people with rheumatoid arthritis.

>

> Dapsone. This antibiotic may be effective in treating rheumatoid

> arthritis; however, its adverse effects, such as hemolytic anemia,

outweigh

> any potential benefits of the drug.

>

> Rifampin. This medication is not effective in treating rheumatoid

> arthritis.

>

>

> Antibiotics have many potential side effects, some serious. Also,

the

> effects of long-term antibiotic use are unknown. More research is

needed to

> determine what, if any, role antibiotics play in rheumatoid

arthritis

> treatment.

>

>

> http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis-

treatment/AN01358

>

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>