Gold Therapy

Gold therapy - they're actually gold salts, not the 24-karat variety - was originally developed as a treatment for tuberculosis; although it was ineffective for TB, gold soon proved its worth against inflammatory arthritis.

Usually your doctor will start you on a 10-mg or 25-mg weekly injection as a test, then increase the dose to 50 mg for five months. If you're doing well, the rheumatologist will gradually reduce the injections to every two weeks, then every three weeks, and eventually just once a month. Some problems related to gold therapy are dose-related and can be relieved by reducing the dose.

Oral gold therapy certainly appears to be more convenient, but it has one drawback not shared by its injectable counterpart that often limits the daily dose: diarrhea. As a result of the smaller daily dose, oral gold can take longer to achieve its effect: from six months to a year. Otherwise, risks and possible side effects are the same as injectable gold.

You will need to have blood and urine tests done to monitor for side effects.

GOLD THERAPY SIDE EFFECTS
Symptom	Frequency	Call Doctor
Skin rash and itchiness	common	Tell doctor before next injection is given as the gold may need to be temporarily stopped. Call if severe.
Mouth Sores	rare	Tell doctor before next injection is given as the gold may need to be temporarily stopped. Call if severe.
Metallic Taste	rare	No
Aching in muscles and joints	rare	No
Bowel Problems	rare	Some patients experience weakness, faintness,dizziness or nausea after recieving the gold injections. This usually goes away after you lie down for a few minutes.
Blood counts	rare	Monitored by monthly blood test
Kidney Problems	rare	Monitored by monthly urine test
Lung Problems	very rare	Yes, call if you develop new shortness of breath
Bowel Problems	very rare	Tell your doctor if you develop blood in the stool

If you haven't already, make sure you visit DMARDs: General Indications.

This page was last reviewed/updated on : 02/23/2008

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Gold Therapy