Ask the Doctor Q & A: Minocin in the treatment of RA

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Ask the Doctor

A. Paget, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R.

http://www.healthtalk.com/rheumatoidarthritis/askthedoctor/112204.cfm

Question:

I was diagnosed with RA three years ago and, after being on a several

different medications, I am only taking Celebrex twice a day and getting

Enbrel injections. My doctor wants me to take Minocin, which is not

specifically a drug to fight RA. Is this a common treatment in RA?

Dr. Paget:

Minocin is an antibiotic in the tetracycline family. It was studied in

RA because RA is thought to be triggered by some type of infection. In

two studies, Minocin was better than placebo in the control of the

clinical signs of RA inflammation. However, it has never been shown to

be disease-modifying, which means that it has not been shown to decrease

the development of joint erosions. Interestingly enough, its

effectiveness in RA is thought to be due to its ability to inhibit

certain body enzymes that lead to inflammation and not due to its

anti-bacterial action. Enbrel, on the other hand, has this capacity but

Celebrex does not. The use of Minocin in your situation must mean that

your doctor does not feel that Enbrel and Celebrex are not completely

controlling your inflammation.