Many of you are already familiar with the revision of Dr. Brown's protocol for rheumatoid arthritis that I have used successfully since 1989 for over 2,000 patients.

The theory revolves around the observation that mycoplasma are a likely cause of rheumatoid arthritis and using certain low dose antibiotics is a useful adjunct to put most cases of RA into remission.

My revision of Dr. Brown's protocol involves

1. Application of an optimized eating plan
2. Addressing the underlying structural abnormalities with NST
3. Using high dose fish oils
4. Addressing emotional wounding with EFT

If a person has mild RA, the above measures are generally sufficient to reverse the illness. More advanced cases, especially those already taking drugs like prednisone or methotrexate, usually require antibiotic therapy. It has been my experience that well over 90%, perhaps as high as 95%, of people with RA respond to the program. Most cases respond in a few weeks to a few months, but some do require considerably longer.

The reason for this announcement is that the brand name Minocin was typically the most effective . This was one of the few cases where the generic did not measure up to the original. Fortunately, there was a generic made by Lederle that was equivalent in every way to the original, except in price. This was easy to understand as Lederle also made the brand name product.

Ethel Snooks has been one of the most ardent support group people for RA in the entire country. She has been instrumental with group support at www.rheumatic.org.

She recently informed met that Wyeth Ayerst purchased the Lederle company and Wyeth's ESI Division made the minocycline.

Wyeth has decided to stop manufacturing the generic version of Minocin which was previously the only acceptable generic.

For now it appears that they will continue to produce Minocin which is great news as there were rumors that it would be stopped since it competed with Wyeth's own RA drug.

Drug Company Denies Harvard Rheumatoid Arthritis Researcher

Physicians' Protocol for Using Antibiotics in Rheumatic Disease