Caution and concern: minocycline and antibiotics for MS

There are new reports and publications advocating for use of minocycline as a "safe and inexpensive treatment for MS"--as well as a new publication on combined antibiotic treatment for CCSVI.

There is no doubt that antibiotics have been helpful for many with MS.

However, I have serious concerns about using antiobiotics as an MS treatment, due to a side effect which can go undetected, causing damage to the brain and vision.

First, a bit of history.  When Jeff was diagnosed with MS in 2007, I found a publication which considered use of minocycline as a low-risk MS treatment.  Yes, this antibiotic has been touted before.  What's old is new.  link

I brought in the research in and asked his neurologist if she would prescribe the antiobiotic for him, and she agreed.

Jeff took minocycline for a couple of days, and developed serious pressure headaches.  He kept on with it, even though he was in agony,  as we had read some articles about "herxing" and bacterial "die-off" and thought maybe that might be the issue.  But the headaches got worse.  After consulting with his neurologist, we learned that Jeff's headaches were most likely due to a KNOWN side-effect of minocycline.

Minocycline is believed to hamper reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain,  potentially creating intracranial hypertension and vision loss.  In fact, doctors know about this side effect, and it has been well documented.   For someone with already slowed venous flow and build-up of CSF (as a patient with CCSVI),  this side effect could be even more harmful.

As intracranial hypertension does not always manifest in vision loss or headache, it might be difficult to know if this antibiotic is hampering CSF flow in the brain.   link
For those who wish to learn more about how all tetracyclines, like minocycline, create intracranial hypertension. link

Jeff's neurologist advised him to stop taking minocycline, and the headaches went away.  He was lucky, he had a very obvious side effect, and knew to stop.  But not everyone gets headaches.

So, please be careful.  Something which seems "benign" as a treatment for MS, may actually have side effects that we still do not understand.

We also do not clearly know the impact of antibiotics on the gut's microbiome.  And this is another area of concern for me.

The study, recently published in mBio, found that just one weeklong course of antibiotics changed participants' gut microbiomes, with the effects sometimes lasting as long as a year. After all, antibiotics don’t discriminate—as they attack the bad bacteria, the good ones are vulnerable too.
link

For people who have benefitted from antiobiotic protocols, I'm truly happy for you!  MS is indeed a snowflake disease, and chronic infections are known endothelial disrupters.   This post is for the folks who have not had benefit, or had damage, or who want to know more.

Because people with MS do not always get the complete story,
Joan