Minocycline

Minocycline hydrochloride, also known as minocycline, is a broad spectrum tetracycline antibiotic, and is the base antibiotic of the Marshall ProtocolA curative medical treatment for chronic inflammatory disease. Based on the Marshall Pathogenesis..

Minocycline is recognized as a DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug) by the American College of Rheumatology, which recommends its use as a treatment for mild rheumatoid arthritis.¹⁾ To minimize its dose-dependent immunosuppressive effects, the Marshall Protocol uses minocycline at doses much lower than otherwise prescribed by rheumatologists.

Either generic or brand name is appropriate to use.

Minocycline hydrochloride (HCL) is the generic name for an antibiotic in the tetracycline family. It is usually referred to as simply minocycline. It is fine to use the generic form, minocycline, which is also the cheapest.

Minocycline is no longer covered by patent and is, therefore, also marketed under several trade names. It is fine to use any of these brand (trade) name products: Minomycin, Minocin, Arestin, Akamin, Aknemin, Solodyn, Dynacin, Sebomin, Alti-Minocycline, Apo-Minocycline, PMS-Minocycline, and Myrac. These are all trade/brand names of the same medication.

Minocycline is the generic name for an antibiotic in the tetracycline family. Generics are less expensive than a name brand. It is fine to use the generic form of minocycline.

It is also okay to use a brand name form of minocycline. For those with a sensitive stomach, the brand name Minocin is said to provide a better rate of absorption from the GI tract when taken with food. Patients may also take generic minocycline with food to decrease stomach upset. Taking the generic form on an empty stomach will speed the absorption.

Either way, if patients are consistent with the product and take it with or without food, they will achieve the same slow ramping and killing of bacteria at different serum levels of minocycline.

Minocycline may be obtained in capsules or tablets. If minocycline is available in tablet form, it is easier to divide with a tablet splitter if or when it is necessary, than dividing capsules.

The easiest route is to either have the minocycline compounded at 25mg or to get 50mg tablets that can be cut in half with a pill cutter. Both of these options are more expensive than buying 50mg capsules and dividing the contents in half yourself.

Joyful

Minocycline is taken in doses of 25, 50, 75 or 100 milligrams every 48 hours (every 2 days) starting in phase 1 of the protocol. Do not take less than 25mg or more than 100mg.

Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within two hours before or after taking minocycline. These products can make minocycline less effective.

Minocycline has been in use for over 40 years yet continues to be effective against MRSA²⁾ and to reduce disease severity even after follow-up several years later.³⁾

Minocycline may be combined with other MP antibiotics in the following fashion:

• BCM – Bactrim DSSulfa antibiotic used by patients on the Marshall Protocol. Combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Works by blocking bacterial folic acid synthesis. + clindamycinBacteriostatic antibiotic used by patients on the Marshall Protocol. + minocycline
• CDM – clindamycin + demeclocyclineBacteriostatic antibiotic used by patients on the Marshall Protocol. + minocycline
• CMZ – clindamycin + minocycline + ZithromaxBacteriostatic antibiotic used by Marshall Protocol patients. Has relatively long half-life.
• DMZ – demeclocycline + minocycline + Zithromax

Because demeclocycline and minocycline are similar, using the antibiotics in the same combination may offer a less severe immunopathological reactionA temporary increase in disease symptoms experiences by Marshall Protocol patients that results from the release of cytokines and endotoxins as disease-causing bacteria are killed. than any of the other combinations.

Minocycline, a clinically used tetracycline for over 40 years, crosses the blood-brain barrier and prevents caspase up-regulation. It reduces apoptosis in mouse models of Huntington's disease and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is in clinical trial for sporadic ALS. Because apoptosis also occurs after brain and spinal cord (SCI) injury, its prevention may be useful in improving recovery. We analyzed minocycline's neuroprotective effects over 28 days following contusion SCI and found significant functional recovery compared to tetracycline. Histology, immunocytochemistry, and image analysis indicated statistically significant tissue sparing, reduced apoptosis and microgliosis, and less activated caspase-3 and substrate cleavage.

BW Festoff ⁴⁾

Also, minocycline partially inhibits caspase-3 activation and photoreceptor degeneration after photic injury.⁵⁾

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