Do you know about Minocycline therapy for arthritis? (updated 4/12/2013)

Hello Gary,

I wrote you about 18 months ago or so regarding a back injury and purchased your book.

Prior to that I was dealing with Palindromic Rheumatism and osteoarthritis for 12 years, I am now 57 years of age.

Several different doctors diagnosed my back injury as herniated disks - yet the rheumatologist and surgeon disagreed and said that my back was full of arthritis.

Starting in the late summer of 09 I started to get aching hands and wrists, extreme fatigue and sweats. Went to the GP and asked for some tests. She did the standard, which were all within normal limits and the Rheumatoid Factor which was 42 unchanged for the last 12 years. Sed rate ESR, ANA were all within normal limits.

I then asked if she could do a CCP test which apparently is a newer test used to mark the progression of Rheumatoid arthritis. She didn't know what the test was, so I gave her some literature. Interestingly my Rheumatologist had never done this test, although she has always said that RA would eventually effect me.

The GP did the CCP and it came back at 15 - apparently normal here in Canada is 5 or below.

I talked my GP into giving me a prescription for Minocycline which I had researched extensively for it's use towards fighting mycoplamas (infection). Started on a course of 100mg twice per day and felt immediately better. She told me it couldn't possible work that quickly and I again told her how sensitive my body is. Finally I was able to see the Rheumatologist who was adamant that I go on Methotrexate - I declined stating that it was only a bandaid until such time that it no longer worked or worse the side effects were unbearable. She caved and said that Minocycline was not proven but that I still "had time" and I will see her again in a few months.

I had to pull the dose back to 100mg per day (as recommended by the pharmacist) as I was having difficulty with the dizziness - within 48 hours I ran into a wall and was hit with a huge flare - very different from past flares and quite unrelenting. I decided to tough it out, but added a good probiotic and digestive enzymes. Within a short time the flare abated.

Sorry to be so long - just trying to be clear. I live XXXXXXX and we only have 2 rheumatologists here - my GP knows nothing about minocycline although I am trying to educate her in this modality.

I have read and researched Dr. Brown's work with the Road Back Foundation where I initially found out about Minocycline.

Do you have any other suggestions or do you know about this modality. Too bad you are so far away - your knowledge and website continue to help so many.

I got confused with the "pulsing" dose of minocycline and as I started on such a high dose 200 per day then down to 100 - I wonder if it is worth my while pulling back even further to 100mg once on Mon. Wed. Fri. - I do feel a little better and realize this is a long and slow process - just not sure if I am taking too much. You may or may not be familiar with this just thought I'd check it out with you as both docs here are not behind me on my journey.

Cheers

Cindy

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Gary Responds:

Cindy: I would tend to go along with your Drs and be very cautious about using Minocycline, or any other antibiotics for anything other than the most demanding instance of bacterial infection.  The risks of lasting harm is too great, including encouraging the growth of drug resistant bacteria.

Drugs companies love people like you: They have much to gain by finding and encouraging additional uses of their Star products, such as Minocycline.  As consumers, we should be very cautious of using a drug for "off label" purposes.

Cindy, there are no drugs solutions for your ongoing health problems.  The Minocycline's anti inflammatory actions may only serve to screw the lid of the pressure cooker pot tighter and tighter and it must eventually blow.  I am convinced that the answer lies in you - diet and lifestyle.

The ICL Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis tells us a lot about what may be going on:

People suffering from arthritis often have a deficiency of copper.  When this occurs the body cannot employ iron properly and there is a consequent buildup of iron in the tissues, including the joints - hence the arthritis.  A chronic bacterial infection can be one cause of the depletion of copper (if there is one).  Incidentally, Minocycline may help to address this depletion of copper and consequent iron buildup by killing off any bacterial infection.

An excess intake of vitamin C, Zinc and vitamin A are known to antagonise copper and may eventually lead to arthritis, including back pain.

If, on the other hand, there is an excess of copper, the person will be more susceptible to yeast and fungal infections, like candida.  High tissue copper is commonly found in people suffering from scoliosis and spinal disc prolapse, due to the consequent collagen weaknesses.

Please read this article here about copper and back pain.

Cindy, the only way to know for sure what may be going on inside your body is to obtain an ICL Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis and then treat what you see.  This is a much more effective approach than the usual "One Size Fits All" approach for this or that health condition.

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