Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
A study from Germany shows that the biologic
medications Etanercept and Infliximab, advertised heavily to treat
arthritis, have a 28 percent rate of side effects (Arthritis &
Rheumatism, November 2005.) Many doctors think that
rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a person’s own immunity gone
haywire. Instead of killing germs that get into your body, your
immunity attacks your own joints. Currently the accepted
treatment is to suppress your immunity with drugs that slow the
inevitable destruction of joints. However, these drugs leave you
relatively defenseless against infections. In the first year of
receiving these biological immune suppressants, six percent
suffered serious infections. Other immune suppressants such as
methotrexate, gold, plaquenil and sulfasalazine have fewer side
effects, but they are less effective in preventing joint damage.
Nonsteroidal drugs, such as ibuprofin help control pain, but do
not prevent joint damage.
My unconventional but often
successful treatment of arthritis
March 1, 2006
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