For Pris: Re: FYI - Alternative Treatments for RA

January 28, 2007

>>>Some swear by it, but the numbers do not back it up, as I understand it

Otherwise, we would all be on antibiotics instead of prednisone! <<<

Hi Pris,

Thanks for your email and I understand what you're saying that " one size

doesn't fit all " . I am really just curious if anyone/how many had tried it,

because I seemed to remember someone mentioning that they were using minocycline

recently in the group. I guess we really wouldn't know how effective it is in

individual cases unless it had been tried and tested with results shared?

I'm currently on Plaquenil (just 3 weeks) and 2 different antibiotics

(tetracycline and biaxin) for RA triggered by Lyme's and am seeing really

promising

improvements already. The excruciating pain in all my joints, stiffness and

swelling is greatly diminishing, faster than I think the Plaquenil would be

working alone. I only take 2 advil in the morning now when only a month ago I

was

clock-watching, anxious for when I could take my next naprosyn.

I think you're right that it would be foolhardy to assume antibiotic therapy

would help in every case, but there is the theory that those with a

predisposition to RA may have had it triggered by an infection (bacterial or

viral) that

causes the immune system to go into hyperdrive. In the case of bacterial

infections, wouldn't it make sense to attack the cause, first, rather than to

treat just the symptoms? I have to wonder whether if by suppressing the immune

system that any insidious bacterial infection would then have free reign,

causing

a vicious, long-term cycle.

I also question if there is a reluctance by docs to try antibiotic therapy,

because of the fear of superbugs and resistance, which is understandable.

However, docs can also be greatly influenced (and often receive their training)

by

the big money-spinning pharmaceuticals and lesser known therapies can get

pushed to the wayside. Besides, when in terrible pain, most people want

immediate

relief! I know I did when I was at my worst and couldn't get out of bed.

There have been trials using low dose minocycline (that has proven

anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibacterial properties) for RA that

have had

some success, so was really just interested in whether anyone had decided to

try this route when all else had failed or as a first line of defense.

Peace, n

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