DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS: INJECTABLE GOLD

Gold sodium thiomalate (Myochrysine)

Aurothioglucose (Solganal)

Generic available: no

Usual dose: weekly to monthly injections

Effective within: six weeks to six months

Gold was first used in the early 1900s to treat people with tuberculosis and other infections. Believing that RA was caused by tuberculosis, Dr. Jacques Forestier began injecting gold into RA patients in the late 1920s with a degree of success. During the 1930s and early 1940s, doctors prescribed very high doses of gold therapy and achieved excellent results, although with excessive side effects. Eventually the disadvantages were considered to outweigh the benefits, and gold therapy went through a phase of disfavor.

In the late 1940s gold enjoyed resurgence after carefully designed studies proved that lower doses could be effective. Since then, gold injections have been administered to thousands of people, many of whom have enjoyed positive results with few side effects. Although most rheumatologists consider gold to be excellent therapy, some respected physicians question its overall effectiveness.

The two most commonly prescribed forms of injectable gold are approximately half gold by weight (and half inactive ingredients). The injections are administered into the buttock muscles. The dose is increased slowly over weeks and months, to limit side effects. Once improvement is noted, the interval between injections can be prolonged, although injections are generally not spaced further apart than one month. This frequency is usually necessary to sustain a remission.

*90/209/5*

DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS: INJECTABLE GOLDGold sodium thiomalate (Myochrysine) Aurothioglucose (Solganal)Generic available: noUsual dose: weekly to monthly injectionsEffective within: six weeks to six monthsGold was first used in the early 1900s to treat people with tuberculosis and other infections. Believing that RA was caused by tuberculosis, Dr. Jacques Forestier began injecting gold into RA patients in the late 1920s with a degree of success. During the 1930s and early 1940s, doctors prescribed very high doses of gold therapy and achieved excellent results, although with excessive side effects. Eventually the disadvantages were considered to outweigh the benefits, and gold therapy went through a phase of disfavor.In the late 1940s gold enjoyed resurgence after carefully designed studies proved that lower doses could be effective. Since then, gold injections have been administered to thousands of people, many of whom have enjoyed positive results with few side effects. Although most rheumatologists consider gold to be excellent therapy, some respected physicians question its overall effectiveness.The two most commonly prescribed forms of injectable gold are approximately half gold by weight (and half inactive ingredients). The injections are administered into the buttock muscles. The dose is increased slowly over weeks and months, to limit side effects. Once improvement is noted, the interval between injections can be prolonged, although injections are generally not spaced further apart than one month. This frequency is usually necessary to sustain a remission.*90/209/5*

Share and Enjoy: