Details

Auranofin is a form of gold that reduces some of the effects of the inflammatory process in the body. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Auranofin is usually given when other medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms. Auranofin will not reverse any cartilage or joint damage that has already occurred in your body. Auranofin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis.

Typical Uses

Auranofin is used as part of a complete treatment program including non-drug therapies (e.g., rest, physical therapy) to treat active rheumatoid arthritis. It is used to treat patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded to or cannot take other medications. Auranofin is a gold compound. It is not a true pain reliever (e.g., like aspirin) but it is thought to decrease pain that occurs with arthritis by decreasing inflammation. Auranofin decreases morning stiffness and pain/swelling in joints and can increase grip strength.

Side Effects

Contact your doctor for immediate help if you experience itching or skin rash white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips pain or swelling in your gums or tongue, metallic taste in your mouth severe or ongoing diarrhoea severe nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding blood in your urine weakness or fainting black, bloody, or tarry stools or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Drug Interactions

• Auranofin+proguanil- Using auranofin and proguanil are not recommended. Using the drugs together can cause blood disorders and other severe side effects.

• Auranofin+chloroquine- Using auranofin and chloroquine are not recommended. Using the drugs together can cause blood disorders and other severe side effects.

• Auranofin+deferiprone- Deferiprone can lower white blood cell count, and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as auranofin may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.

• Auranofin+hydroxychloroquine- Using auranofin and hydroxychloroquine are not recommended. Using the drugs together can cause blood disorders and other severe side effects.

• Auranofin+mefloquine- Using auranofin and mefloquine are not recommended. Using the drugs together can cause blood disorders and other severe side effects.

Mechanism of action

Auranofin is an oral, gold-containing chemical (salt) used for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It is not well understood exactly how gold salts work. In patients with inflammatory arthritis, such as adult and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gold salts decrease the inflammation of the lining of the joint. They prevent the inflammation from destroying the bone and cartilage surrounding the joint and deformities of the joints. Because of its ability to prevent or slow deformities of the joints, auranofin is considered a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). Gold salts also are called second-line drugs because they often are considered when arthritis persists in spite of the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pregnancy Category : C