Very interesting article. Since IBS has been an issue for me for many years, I would definitely try it. I take a risk with all the RA meds everyday, one more wouldn’t change that, and if it helps or corrects the RA.,, then win/win!
Have a wonderful weekend!!

I am torn. Here's the thing, the pharmaceutical companies have a big say in legislation and deep pockets to pay for any decision they need to make them money. They have contracts with insurance companies to get kick backs. The only medicine that has slowed down my autoimmune diseases has been hydroxycloriquine. It's been around for years for Malaria. Humira helped some but the side effects suck. They have tried many, but still 13 more biologics to try and continue to take a toll on my body. Tetracycline and the other antibiotics they are talking about are low cost and been around for years. So do you take a chance on the new high powered side effects killing me slowly or take a chance on antibiotics that have been around forever. My doc that I love is going to tell me I can't do the antibiotics treatment because of my immune deficiency disorder. But he can give me the other high prices stuff that also lowers my immune system. His come back for that is the IVIG takes care to balance out the immune system. So therefore could balance out if the antibiotics lowering immune system.
Just venting for a friend! 😊😳

Charlene,
No I'm not okay with them! I'm just not brave enough to do the other options. I take very little steroids because of my immune deficiency. I refused to try methotrexate again. Each of the 3 rheumatologist I've been to have tried to get me to try it again. Honestly, I have this issue with seeing some very dear friends that have chosen the "healthier way" to cure their cancer, lupus and other things and they are no longer with us. I am so happy that some have seen success in this antibiotic treatment. I have noticed reading the book Nancy suggested and hearing from others experience, they seem to function better and the deterioration seems to subside but the fatigue still exists. So I'm pretty sure there are 2 sides to everything and everyone's body works different from the others. These diseases suck and I hope your plan works for you

@A myRAteam Member
Last week I received an email from a man, who is 82. He has tried prednisone, enbrel, methotrexate, plaquenil, orencia, humira, and Gold treatments!! with NO luck.

Long story short, He tried the antibiotic treatments at age 70. Within 3 months of starting this treatment he was seeing improvements. He says he now has his life back at 82 years of age.

If you’d like his full story I can email it to you. It’s an amazing testimony. I think what isn’t clear in this discussion is that you stay on your medications until after about the 3rd month on the antibiotic. By this time the antibiotic kills off the bugs enough to manage the RA with either less medications, different or no medications.

Mentioned Users

A myRAtea...

Antibiotic therapy—also known as AP—is an approach to treating rheumatic diseases with low-dose oral antibiotics, usually an antibiotic in the tetracycline class, but occasionally a tetracycline antibiotic in combination with oral antibiotics in other classes (e.g., a macrolide) and/or IV (intravenous) clindamycin. AP is based on the theory, pioneered by Dr. Thomas McPherson Brown, that rheumatic diseases have an infectious origin. This treatment approach is generally focused on slowly reducing the underlying infectious cause(s) in either a pulsed regimen (e.g., Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or M-W-F) or a daily regimen that is tailored to meet the patient’s needs.