Arthritis Drugs Cause Fatal Fungal Infections

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Arthritis Drugs Cause Fatal Fungal Infections

_http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/25/arthritis-drugs

-cause-fatal-fungal-infections.aspx?source=nl_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/25/arthritis-drugs-c\

ause-fatal-fungal-infections.

aspx?source=nl)

 

The U.S. FDA has ordered stronger warnings on four medications widely used

to treat rheumatoid arthritis, saying they can raise the risk of possibly

fatal fungal infections.

 

Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia work by suppressing the immune system to

keep it from attacking your body. For people with rheumatoid arthritis, the

treatment provides relief from swollen and painful joints. But the drugs also

lower your body's defenses against various kinds of infections.

 

The FDA became concerned after discovering that doctors seemed to be

overlooking a particular kind of fungal infection called histoplasmosis. The

infection is prevalent in much of the middle part of the country, and it can

have

grave consequences if it isn't caught early and spreads beyond the respiratory

system to other organs of your body.

 

Of 240 cases reported to the FDA in which patients taking one of the four

drugs developed this infection, a total of 45 (or about 20 percent) died.

 

Sources: USA Today September 4, 2008

 

_http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-04-fda-arthritis_N.htm?csp=34_

(http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-04-fda-arthritis_N.htm?csp=34)

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

 

This is another example of why I continually warn that most rheumatoid

arthritis drugs are simply _far too dangerous to use_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/06/03/most-drugs-for-rh\

eumatoid-arthritis-are-too-

dangerous-to-use.aspx) and fail to address the cause of the problem.

 

Studies have shown that people who take the drugs Humira or Remicade double

their chance of getting a serious infection, and triple their risk of

developing a number of different kinds of cancer. These drugs have also been

linked

to lymphoma, tuberculosis and pneumonia, along with skin, gastrointestinal,

breast and lung tumors. Enbrel has also been found to _worsen congestive

heart failure_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/01/25/enbrel.aspx) ,

and all four drugs are being investigated for _increasing the

risk of cancer in children and young adults_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/06/28/do-arthritis-drug\

s-cause-cancer.aspx) .

 

Enbrel, Remicade, Humira, and Cimzia are powerful drugs, all of which block

a protein called tumor necrosis factor, and are therefore known as

TNF-blockers. They work by blocking a part of your immune system, and are used

to

treat not only rheumatoid arthritis but also psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and

other

immune diseases.

 

TNF blockers have been among the most successful of all biotechnology drugs.

Remicade, Humira and Enbrel had combined sales of more than $13 billion in

2007!

 

Why are these drugs so popular, despite their _very serious side effects_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/04/20/arthritis-drugs.a

spx) and astronomical price tags (taking Remicade for one year will set you

back about $12,000)? Because rheumatoid arthritis can be an extremely

painful and debilitating disease, and most doctors direct people to these

medications for relief.

 

It’s certainly understandable why people would take them, particularly when

they’re presented as the only option. In reality, taking these TNF-blockers

now may relieve your pain, but at what cost?

 

Cancer?

 

A deadly fungal infection?

 

Pneumonia or heart failure?

 

 

Most people are simply not aware of what’s at stake, or that there are

options for treating arthritis that do not involve these drugs.

 

The Drug-Free Way to Overcome Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

I have treated over 3,000 patients with my revision of _Dr. Brown’s

Antibiotic Protocol_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/08/27/rheumatoid-arthri\

tis-part-one.aspx) since the late '80s, and the success rate

is well over 80%. It really is amazing how powerful the healing potential of

your body is once you address causal factors and provide it with the

essential healing tools and resources.

 

The protocol involves:

 

1. Improving your diet using a combination of _my nutritional guidelines_

(http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/index.htm) and _nutritional typing_

(http://products.mercola.com/nutritional-typing/) .

 

2. Getting plenty of omega-3 fats by taking a high-quality, animal-based

omega-3 supplement, like krill oil.

 

3. _Getting your vitamin D levels checked_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/01/31/vitamin-d-benefit\

s-part-one.aspx) and, if

necessary, taking a supplement if you can't get daily sun exposure. This is

absolutely crucial and, in my opinion, gross medical negligence and malpractice

if

it is not performed on nearly every RA patient, as nearly all RA patients

have low vitamin D levels.

 

4. Having an effective method of addressing the nearly universal _underlying

emotional distresses_ (http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse1.htm) that

are present in most all autoimmune diseases like RA.

 

5. Incorporating regular exercise into your daily schedule. If your joints

are painful, _gentle exercises like yoga and Tai Chi_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/08/02/rheumatoid-arthri\

tis-part-fourteen.aspx)

are recommended. You may also want to have a consultation with an exercise

professional so no permanent joint damage is done as a result of joint

deformities.

 

 

Rather than suppress your immune system like most rheumatoid arthritis

medications, these steps will actually help to repair the underlying imbalances

in

your body that are causing the disease. It is important for you to work with

your health care professional, someone who understands natural medicine, as

you go through this process (if your doctor is recommending Enbrel,

Remicade, Humira, or Cimzia, they DO NOT understand the damage that occurs when

you

artificially suppress your immune system, and I would suggest seeking guidance

elsewhere).

 

As I said, these steps have helped thousands of people to become free of

rheumatoid arthritis pain. As you work through the process -- and as your body

begins to restore balance -- you can use these _natural anti-inflammatory

alternatives_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/01/12/anti-inflammatory\

-part-one.aspx) to help treat your pain until the disease

itself is under control.

 

Related Articles:

 

_The Wonderful Benefits of Bee Venom on RA_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/11/20/bee-venom-ra.aspx\

)

 

_Carbohydrates Contribute to Arthritis_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/09/04/arthritis-part-th\

ree.aspx)

 

_From Rheumatoid Arthritis to Pain-Free Living the Natural Way_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/07/17/rheumatoid-arthri\

tis-part-th

irteen.aspx)