changing to doxycycline questions

October 30, 2009

Well the time has come for me to see my primary Dr. My rheumatologist, whom I

have seen since the mid 1980's for FMS, then RA, has moved out of state. He was

a skeptic of AP, always followed the traditional line of thinking, said I needed

yearly blood work, said Minocin wouldn't hurt me so he'd write prescription for

it, which he's done for 8 or 9 years, etc, etc! Last Fall he told me he might

be moving to a new job in Wisconsin in the next year, where he'd been working on

an intermittent basis the previous year. At that visit his perspective had

totally changed! He was no longer the skeptic. Said if minocin was working I

was to continue what I was doing because, obviously, it had worked well for me!

He didn't want blood work, didn't want x-rays, nothing!!!!! :-)

So, now I have to find a new rheumy, or use my primary Dr. Months ago I asked

my primary if he would prescribe Minocin for me if my rheumy left. He said he

would prescribe, but he'd want to switch me to doxycycline. I wasn't too

excited about that prospect! However, in the months since my rheumy left I've

realized that I have side effects from the Minocin! My nailbeds are blue (no,

not a circulatory problem) and I have white spots all over my arms and legs. If

I'd realized they were Minocin side effects I'd have discussed it with rheumy a

year ago!

I've also had a lot of trouble this year with diarrhea. I'm finally on a good

probiotic and Undecenoic acid, which has finally seemed to show good results the

past few days.

So my mulit-faceted questions are these:

1) I'm wondering how much trouble those of you on doxy have with GI symptoms

and other side effects. (I've been on Minocin for nearly 10 years!) Is is

better, or worse, than Minocin? Do you pulse it, like Minocin? I've been on

Minocin 100 mg 3-4 days a week for the last couple years, essentially a

maintenance dose. What would a comparable dose be on Doxy?

2) Interestingly, within 7-10 days of running out of Minocin I usually started

having pain. However, last year, and now this year, I've been off Minocin a

month, without the return of pain! Do any of you have recommendations about

continuing or staying off the antibiotics now? I've been in remission since a

few months after starting Minocin in Jan. of 2000. However, blood work shows

high levels of ????, which indicate underlying, but non-symptomatic, disease. I

don't want the RA to rear it's ugly head again, so I'm inclined to stay on it.

But.......I'd appreciate any input!!!!!!!!!

M.

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