Probiotics for MG

[Brad Herndon]

Hi N Muruga,

That is absolutely not true.  If you have the resources, you need to connect with a Neurologist, preferably, an MG specialist, if possible.  There are multiple treatment approaches.   Some won’t work for everyone but many do.  It is a bit of trial and error, but so important to connect with good clinicians to help guide the journey.

Best of luck!

[N Muruga]

Thank you, Brad.My question was on the basis of an article in microbiology in 2018.It was stated that gut bacteria were less in MG patients and taking certain probiotics may have therapeutic value in the treatment of MG patients.

[Lisa Blutman]

Hi:  when diagnosed with occular, my neurologist immediatly put me on mestinon.  I ended up with general layer that is totally undercontrol when adding celcept.  You need to see a good neurologist who will work with you.

[Barbara E.]

You mentioned probiotics, which may help depending on your GI issues. Yet keep in mind… There are many treatment options for MG, but no cure yet. Treatmwnts must be customized for each of us because we all respond differently to MG (called the “snowflake disease”) and the treatments. The goal is to lessen and control your symptoms as much as possible and adapt as you may need. With luck, you might even go into remission, which I did for 13 years.

For the best results, you must work with a great neurologist or neuroimmunologist, who specializes in neuromuscular disorders, like MG. Also, learn as much as you can to help understand and advocate for yourself.

Start by checking online information available from the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA), other medical websites (Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, etc.) and even YouTube. Knowledge is power when added to your determination to fight for your best quality of life! Best of luck!!

[Ronald]

I have recently started with water Kefir if you don’t know it you can google it

this is very easy and simply to maintain the production

i also eat plain natural unsweetened yogurt and I find that this helps to replace and maintain the healthy stomach bacteria which in my case seems to be lessened due to the medication

my other daily supplements are vit D Ubiquinol 200mg and Astaxanthan

I am not in remission I do take mestinon 60 mg as required and as fewer times as possible myfortic 500mg twice a day and 5 mg preg

i play tennis 4 times a week for 4 hours plus and this makes a big improvement to my day

cold swim every morning including winter and infra saunas at least every week

I do get IVIG every 4 weeks now being extended to 6 weeks to try to wean me off it

hope this helps in some small way

all the best Ron

 

[Mary Ann]

The symptom that caught the MG for me was the ocular connection with droooping eyelids…. but when the doctor started me on Prednisone and the Pyri Rx, my eye lid went back up from geing completely closed down within 48 hurs. The double vision is also less and now almost gone completely. The “pyri” caused tummy upsets, so we have since stopped that and I’m only on prednisone now at 40 mg a day and after 2 weeks, the neurologist is going to start me on less….. See a neurologist. Be warned on the perscriptions that interact… see the MG page – for that is what caused my ‘FLARE UP”….

[MikeS]

Because my Neurologist wants me to take Bactrim (an antibiotic) when my daily prednisone dose is 20 mg or greater, I’ve been on it (Bactrim) for over 7 months now.  I hope to be on less than 20 mg prednisone starting in about six weeks if the weaning I’m currently undergoing is successful.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to restore the gut microbiome once a person is off antibiotics? I’m familiar with (but have never used) pro/pre-biotics. What meds or OTC preparations have you found to be successful? Did you happen to go to a nutritionist for advice? Thanks for any feedback.

[Lise]

This is my treatment plan as of now mestinon 6o mg 3 timer a day I take cellcept 2000 mg a day prednisone 20 mg a day and also go for IVIG treatment on a somewhat frequent basis as of yet 5 day infusion treatments I’ve had 2 since October. Just been given new medication for migraines as the IVIG brings on migraines again hoping it’s not the MG.  Magnesium and potassium is very low also something new?   The medication does help my eye it is almost normal again but it has hit my muscles and nerves in my face at time and weakness in my muscles,  hopefully this last treatment 4days ago will have some progress in slowing things down

[Robert Devine]

I cannot help with your probiotic question but it makes sense with the gut brain connection try to google it. I also have ocular and was told by my neurologist the same thing he only has me on mestinon which does help with symptoms but not the disease progression. After doing my own research it became clear that people ocular MG has a lesser progression to generalized when they took mestinon for symptoms and an immune suppressant drug notably prednisone which works to control the autoimmune response. There are other suppressants that can be used also but the key is to add them to your regimen. You MUST locate an experienced neurologist by searching and asking for recommendations on forums like this for your area. Many neurologists are not experts with mg but fail to tell you this. I am now on the third one – tried 2 at Cleveland clinic – you have to have a specific name to ask for or the large practices just give you to whoever is the least busy doctor and they all say they are equal and experienced with mg but this is not true. There are many factors that influence your chances of the condition going from ocular to generalized ie age at onset the older not as good, positive emg test, positive acetacholine antibody test but try to be proactive I’m going for a third opinion next week as I had to talk my current neurologist into giving prednisone.

[Philip Callas]

Started off with ocular and graduated to gmg, on mestinon which worked very well for the ocular issue, am still on low dose of mestinon along with IVIG and imuran, doing ok but fatigue and weakness a huge issue with me. Good luck and be well

[S. R. Prasil]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29341125/

Regardless of whether probiotics wind up as part of our standard protocol or not, there are so many studies of how helpful they are to us even when everything seems rather ‘normal’. The link I attached shows many studies specifically on MG and probiotics and/or autoimmune neuro issues and probiotics. So—I have added probiotics to my regime.

[Frank]

Hello,

As others have said there are scholarly articles that say that autoimmune conditions, of which MG is one, affect the gut biome. They don’t say that gut biome can cause MG, though some believe that.

So, probiotics cannot hurt and can help keep your stomach healthy with the various medications and/or supplements that are taken. I get mine on amazon and am very happy with them. I use one that is for women because the main difference between the standard and the one for women is additions to help prevent urinary tract infections (which I have had in the past and have found very unpleasant). Dr. Formulated Raw Probiotics for Women 100 Billion CFUs with Prebiotics, Digestive Enzymes, Approved Women’s Probiotic for Adults, Shelf Stable Probiotic Supplement Capsules The labels calls for two per day, but I only use one per day and they last two months for about $25.

My neurologist was pleased that I take them, so I keep on taking them. Good luck with your journey. At 71, I have spent a lot of time using alternative remedies, supplements, and other modalities with my traditional medicine route and have found it very helpful. Please, please don’t fall for the nay sayers that claim that alternative remedies/medicine is quackery or don’t work. . . the science and experience just don’t support that position.

Take care, Frank

[Kathy]

Thank you SR Prasil for the links.  I am trying to research probiotics as an additional help for my MG symptoms (droopy eyelid, occasional speech, chewing and swallowing impairment, and generalized fatigue). I found a study where bifido might help. I am on Mestinon (4×90 mg per day).  I am trying to avoid the next step which for me is prednisone and iv immuglobulin therapy. I’m a yogurt eater but recently switched brands and found out that my new brand is by far inferior in bifido so I’m going back to my original brand and also starting to drink kefir and taking probiotic pills. I’m hoping to see an improvement within a few weeks.
Has anyone gone this route?

[Sharon Haw]

There are plenty of treatment options for MG. Many peer reviewed articles do point to MG patients having less healthy microbiomes. While research continues, probiotics supplementation does have a couple of risks to be aware of. The first is that the supplementation industry is NOT regulated and some manufacturers may mix bad bacteria in with the good. This article is a plain language overview of some of the risks https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a42433382/probiotics-side-effects/# and what to look for (third party certification). I don’t take supplements, I get supplementation from food sources high in nutrients, etc.

[Delia Hernandez]

Probiotics have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which could help reduce inflammation that contributes to MG symptoms. They may also help improve neuromuscular function by enhancing the bacterial balance in the gut. Research has found that individuals with MG tend to have a lower presence of beneficial gut bacteria, and probiotic supplementation may help restore the balance of gut bacteria and potentially mitigate ocular MG symptoms.

However, more research is needed to confirm the efficacy of probiotics as a treatment for MG. It is also essential to note that probiotics are not a substitute for traditional medical therapies used for MG management, and individuals considering using probiotics for MG should speak with their healthcare professional first.