Antibiotics and Arthritis
In my last article I described the overuse and potential problems associated with antibiotics. Nonetheless, antibiotics are needed to treat serious infections, and have been shown to be helpful with many other conditions that we don’t usually associate with infections, such as arthritis.
The concept of an infection causing arthritis is not new. In fact, the use of gold injections beginning in the 1940s was based on this compound’s anti-microbial effects. Though highly toxic, and of limited benefit, gold is still being used today. Because of the dramatic relief experienced with the use of cortisone and other anti-inflammatories, the infection theory of arthritis was nearly forgotten.
However, in 1995 a study called the MIRA trial involving over 200 participants was published in the prestigious journal, the Annals of Internal Medicine. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that patients receiving antibiotics (in this case minocycline), experienced a dramatic reduction in symptoms (pain and swelling) as well as an improved quality of life compared to the placebo group. Additionally, there was a decrease in the use of anti-inflammatories in the treatment group and an increase in the placebo group. Other studies have shown similar results.
Over the years I have had patients report that their arthritis pain diminished while on antibiotics and I’ve had several that went into complete remission. So why are antibiotics not being utilized more? One reason is that the FDA has not approved minocycline, or any other antibiotic, for the treatment of arthritis—so it is considered an “off-label” use of the medicine. Also, doctors are understandably reluctant to prescribe antibiotics long term because of potential side effects. However, the drugs typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are highly toxic and largely ineffective, and these are prescribed to the tune of billions of dollars a year. To protect their enormous profits, big pharmaceutical companies have done everything possible to discourage any competition.
The antibiotics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are the same ones used to treat acne in teenagers. These inexpensive drugs, known as tetracylines, do have side effects, but they are typically minor. I recommend pro-biotics to maintain the intestinal flora, and I always recommend high quality vitamin and mineral supplements as insurance against a deficiency. Tetracylines may cause photosensitivity, so extra precautions must be taken to prevent sunburns.
While antibiotics won’t help everyone with arthritis, they sometimes offer enormous relief. You can learn more at www.roadback.org/ or by reading the book, The New Arthritis Breakthrough by Henry Scammell.
-Dr. Angier practices integrative medicine at GET WELL in St. Augustine, Florida.
