RA and antibiotic?????

[lovemydoggy]

My om has Myesthenia Gravis and we were search for contraindicated antibiotics. Can't remember exactly, but think it said RA patients can develop Myesthenia Gravis from an antibiotic. Maybe certain med combinations or just the disase itself. MG is a very rare autoimmune disease and I suppose maybe that's why I've never come across this. Has anyone else heard of this or have any experience?

[Pippy25]

Thank you for sharing, I wasn't aware of this so I've just had a read about it. It's a little after 5.30 am as I'm writing this, up early as I'm due to have my bloods done in a few hours time after over 5 months of waiting in this lock down and I'm frightened of missing my appointment so haven't slept well. I was particularly interested in the symptoms and also medications not to take, in particular the antibiotics, as I have had some bad reactions to quite a few of those on the list and it does make you wonder. Once I am a bit more awake and have been to the doctors, I will read some more about it. So I appreciate you posting this. Take care x

[helixhelix in reply to Pippy25]

A lot of people have reactions to antibiotics. It is quite common.

[Pippy25 in reply to helixhelix]

That's right, when I had a partial nail removal a few years back they didn't swab me when it became badly infected until after the fifth course as soon as they did this they knew which I would be more effective and the infection went, so not only am I resistant to some, I react to others. My body does it's own thing and literally keeps me on my toes!

[lovemydoggy in reply to helixhelix]

Oh yes, I did a few years ago prior to rheumatoid symptoms. My knee swelled up and I could hardly move. I researched it and it was floroquine (i think). Doctor said, oh that happens all the time. Nobody told me. 🤬

What made me concerned about what I read was RA patients given antibiotics that could bring on Myesthenia Gravis, which is another autoimmune disease. It's a horrible disease. My mom has very little quality of life. It can be fatal. So I obviously got concerned as someone with RD that if I took that antibiotic I could end up with Myesthenia Gravis. If what I read is true it isn't a reaction that would go away. It would be yet another lifelong illness. Scary.

[helixhelix]

I’m sorry your mum has myasthenia, it’s a horrible thing to have.

However it is caused by a malfunctioning immune system, not by taking antibiotics. BUT there is a list of antibiotics that are contraindicated if you have MS, they can make it worse. Perhaps that’s what you were looking at?

Otherwise there are some 40 year old research studies that say that people with RA treated with an antibiotic called penicillmine can develop side effects of symptoms of myasthenia. This antibiotic is no longer used routinely for the treatment of RA as drugs such as methotrexate have taken over as they are more effective and less toxic.

[helenlw7 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for putting my mind at rest. I have brittle asthma and Bronchiectasis. I have been taking antibiotics for about 5 years as a prophylactic, and my chest infections have gone down 6or 7 over the winter to one or 2.

[Kags1068 in reply to helixhelix]

Oh no ...... the dreaded Penicillamine! I remember it well! 😳

I took it for about 5/6 years (approx 83/84 until 89/90) after Gold injections didn't work. It was horrible! Hadto take it a 6am ever morning with a glass of water on an empty stomach. It caused nausea every day - ugh!! We used to have Colgate toothpaste at home at the time, and to this day I can't bear to use it (or even look at it) as I still feel sick at the though of it!!😁

After a few months it was clear it still wasn't controlling things, as by the age of 15 I'd already got quite a lot of damage after only being diagnosed a few months previously at 14. My Consultant sent me to see Dr Barbara Ansell, who I believe was one of the leading child specialists at the time. I was adamant about not wanting to take steroids yet, so they agreed to add Salazopyrin (which I think everyone now calls Sulphasalazine). I was told this combination was unusual at the time, but I don't really know for sure. I stuck with this (although it still didn't control things very well) until 1989/90 until Methotrexate became available. Have been on that (with others) ever since. The bad old days, eh? I'm very glad people nowadays don't have to have things like Penicillamine!! I don't know if they ever use it now?! 😊

[helixhelix in reply to Kags1068]

I think it’s at the bottom of the list....well after gold which is only used in exceptional cases. Thankfully by the sound of it!

For most of us (sadly not all) it’s a good reminder that the current drugs are something to be thankful for.

[Kags1068 in reply to helixhelix]

Haha - yes, I will certainly second that one!!😁😁

[lovemydoggy in reply to Kags1068]

Oh my gosh, I remember my great aunt got gold injections. I don't think they helped her RA a bit. Poor thing. She was so gnarled up from head to toe she kind of scared me as a kid. Her pain must've been unbearable. I think it's the only med she took. Was many, many years ago.

[Kags1068 in reply to lovemydoggy]

Yes, it wasn't a very nice medication to take, and there wasn't much else! I was on it after I was first diagnosed at the beginning of 83 (just after turning 14). There were a whole group of "regulars" on Gold and we used to have to traipse into clinic every week for our injection and blood test. Hadto stop it after a few months as it wasn't working and I had side effects. Those were the days - haha!😳😊

[KittyJ in reply to Kags1068]

Oh I’d forgotten about penicillamine too, how could I. So glad people aren’t usually given that and gold injections nowadays. We have come so far 😊

[Kags1068 in reply to KittyJ]

Yes, things have certainly changed a lot - thank goodness😳😊

[AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix]

When I was on Mtx...about ten years ago a friend with MG was being treated with it at the same time & said it really helped her.

As you say it is an autoimmune disease affecting neurological functions & sometimes our drugs do overlap.

[lovemydoggy in reply to helixhelix]

No I was looking at contraindications for Myesthenia Gravis. I know it's autoimmune, but apparently there is an antibiotic, which if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, that can increase your risk of MG. It was a med on a list of antibiotics to avoid specifically if you have MG. But I'm pretty sure it wasn't that one because it sounds like penicillin and I'd remember it. Though I don't trust my memory 100% anymore. 🤣 Do you know if penicillimine is used to treat infection now? My worry is at some point I might get an antibiotic for an infection and it could be the one that can cause the MG.

[lovemydoggy in reply to lovemydoggy]

Above post was responding to helixhelix. Don't think that was clear. Hoping it was penacillamine I read not something else. The contraindications for MG are endless.

[helixhelix in reply to lovemydoggy]

Penicillimine is very rarely used now. Really don’t worry. MG is foul, but just make sure its in your medical notes that you mum has it and all should be fine.

[crashdoll]

Hi lovemydoggy .

I have RA and MG. I was told there is no link with regards to antibiotics but as they are both autoimmune diseases, you might find you end up with both, as I did. I’m under the care of one of the UK’s top MG neurologists and she told me this, so hope that’s reassuring.

[lovemydoggy in reply to crashdoll]

Crashdoll, if you don't mind my asking what do u take for your MG? Mom takes mestinon, but it doesn't do much. I think she should be on something stronger. Her doctor mentioned Imuran. She has generalized MG.

[crashdoll in reply to lovemydoggy]

I’m on mestinon which helps with some symptoms. I was already on methotrexate for RA so they increased the dose for MG. The only thing that really gives me any relief is prednisolone and this is my long term plan for now. It’s not ideal but I’m better this way.

[lovemydoggy in reply to crashdoll]

Glad something gives you relief. Mom is now thinking steriods or Imuran. As of today actually. Then she also wants to stay on mestinon. Don't know which would be better. It's all an experiment I guess. Sorry you have MG and RA. As you say, autoimmune diseases like to come in clusters. I have an aunt with Crest syndrome, Raynaud's and RA and something else I can't remember. Its all crap isn't it? 🙁