Question

Some patients do not respond to traditional anti-inflammatory medications and try chrysotherapy (gold therapy). Summarize the of gold therapy in the patient with rheumatic inflammatory condition. Include common drugs used in gold therapy, therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, common adverse reactions, and important drug-drug interaction

Answer 1

Gold is an effective medicine on treating inflammatory diseases. Gold injections are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. These injections will relieve inflammation and thus pain will be reduced. The actual anti inflammatory properties of gold is still unknown. But there is evidence of gold that inhibits the substance that is responsible for production of antibodies and inflammatory mediators.

Gold thiomalate: this drug is used in rheumatoid inflammatory conditions.

Interactions: they can interact with immunosuppressive agents, anti malarial drug, phenytoin.

The injection is injected to the muscles. It reach directly into systemic circulation and excreted through urine.

Sodium aurothiomalate: they belong to the catagory of disease modifying anti rheumatoid drugs.

Action: this will make down the activity of the immune system and reduce risk of bone damage.

They are usually injected to the muscles. This injection is no longer made and rheumatologist may give alternative for this.

Its elimination half life is 6-25 days.

Excretion is through urine and feces.

ADR: digestive, vasomotor and dermatological side effects are shown.

Severe reaction is the main contraindication of gold therapy.

capreomycin, captopril can cause interactions