Article: Antibiotic Protocol Therapy 101 | Arthritis Information

I found this clearly written article about AP therapy (the theory and the
politics surrounding it's use) on about.com. I think it's new because I haven't
come across it before. Anyway, I thought it would be useful as a sort of
"Cliff's Notes" on antibiotic therapy for the curious.

http://arthritis.about.com/cs/antibiotic/a/antibiotictreat.h tm
http://
arthritis.about.com/cs/antibiotic/a/antibiotictreat.htm Nice article! I bet it will help out people contemplating choosing AP therapy. Gimpy have you had any results yet? I have just started my 11th month and still waiting for results. I do know that it takes a while so I am not giving up but just wondering how you were doing on it.Hey Bonny,
Well, I'm still on my full dose of MTX and plaquenil, but something is
happening, all right. I've been slowly upping my dose of minocin and
what happens is every time I increase my dose I get all these reactions
where my pain increases plus I get new, weird pains. This lasts for about
3 weeks and then those go away and I feel really good. Last month I had
3 completely pain free symptom free days. I just upped my dose last
week to the max (200mg MWF) and I'm hurtin'! So I'm pretty sure these
are herx reactions.

One thing I notice is a remarkable decrease in my level of fatigue. It's
amazing!

What else....um...one of my teeth is turning gray so I have to go to the
dentist and make sure they can clean it off. It discolours from bacterial
die off. I don't want gray teeth!

As soon as this herx phase is over for 2 weeks I will begin to decrease my
mtx. I expect it might follow the same pattern of herxing as my immune
system gets stronger, but that's speculation.

I have been keeping a chart I found on a MP site and it's really helped me
track my progress.

One thing is even if I can't get off the mtx I will continue the minocin
because I believe it has improved my overall condition greatly. I will keep
you posted on my progress.Bonny, I've been meaning to ask you what ABX you're taking, and what dose
you're on. Could it be possible your dose is too high? That's a common
problem.I also just noticed the nodule on my toe is diminishing!

That's great news Gimpy! It gives me hope. I did not tolerate the Minocin well (severe herxing) and am only up to 50mg-day. I am about ready to try an increase to 100mg-day. If the 100mg is too hard I may pulse it for a while.

I continue to take MTX and Enbrel. I wanted to stop/slow down bone erosion while waiting for ABX to work. I probably won't begin to reduce my RA meds until I am at the 200mg recommended ABX. I am getting 2 to 4 days a week where I can get something acomplished but for obvious reasons I do not know which med is doing this or maybe all of them.

I would kind of like to try slowly dropping the RA meds but since I just got done being bed and house ridden for months I want to enjoy the time I get especially since summer will soon start.

Glad to hear the nodule is shrinking! Thanks for the info.

I hear you about bone erosion! That was one of the reasons I didn't want to do an abrupt end to my current treatment while starting AP. Some people believe the immunesuppressants cancel out the AP, but I think I still have quite a bit of immune function even on them. If I had started AP full on and not on mtx I think it would have been to herx-extreme. I learned about the phase in/out protocol from a woman in Calgary who runs an AP advocay group.

Have you considered doing a pulse dose on 50mg? Some people believe you ahve to pulse because it gives your immune system a chance to attack the mycoplasmas and your gut a chance to recover from the abx. Also, with AP sometimes less is more. I personally think 200mg/day is too much unless you have scleroderma. I know that's what most doctors prescribe because that's what they do the trials at, but I've read many personal encounters where people did way better after they decreased the dose. I read one post last week where a woman on AP for (I think) about 6 years only does 25mg MWF. My plan is to get to 200mg MWF, then if I start hurting for a long time after decreasing my mtx to decrease my minocin and see if that doesn't do the trick.

Anyway, I don't even have an experienced AP doctor so everything I say is heresay from people who have done it, and I do know some people do well with 100 or 200mg/daily. I just thought I would throw that out for your consideration. (it's times like this I really mis Pip!)
Yeah I miss Pip too. Thanks Gimpy, a lot of this AP is kind of up to us to figure it out, lol.Thanks for the info Gimpy. I have been very interested in the AP therapy and am wondering what my doctors feeling about it will be. I am defineately going to ask him about it on my next visit in July.

I have been on mTX and am wondering if the small nodules on my lungs could be due to the medication.

Please tell me what herxing is?????
Thanks

A herx is a temproary worsening of symptoms caused by bacterial die-off. Here's an exerpt I got from Wikepedia:

Herxheimer Reaction

The Herxheimer reaction (also known as Jarisch-Herxheimer or herx) occurs when large quantities of toxins are released into the body as bacteria (typically Spirochetal bacteria) die, due to antibiotic treatment.

Typically the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins via the natural detoxification process performed by the kidneys and liver. It is manifested by fever, chills, headache, myalgias, and exacerbation of cutaneous lesions. Duration is normally only a few hours. The intensity of the reaction reflects the intensity of inflammation present.

The Herxheimer Reaction has shown an increase in inflammatory cytokines during the period of exacerbation, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8.

I have to run right now so I can't post more, but I would STRENUOSLY recommend reading The New Arthritis Breakthrough before talking to your doctor (they probably have it at your local library). It's easy to read.

Good luck with whatever course your treatment takes.

Bonny!

Have you thought about pulsing? I really noticed a difference in how I was feeling when I could tell it was a herx (dose related). When my diet got all messed up during the move I went more towards how I felt in the beginning - less dose related and generally more yucky.

By the way - thanks again for the info on the milk thistle - it's really a wonder drug!

Pip