AURANOFIN

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Ridaura

GENERIC NAME(S): AURANOFIN

 

Description: Auranofin is a gold compound that has anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic effects. It also reduces serum rheumatoid factor, lysosomal enzyme activity and complement activation; and inhibits prostaglandin synthesis.

This medication is used to treat active rheumatoid arthritis, severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded to or cannot take other medications, morning stiffness and pain/swelling in joints and can increase grip strength. Auranofin is a gold compound.  It decreases pain by decreasing inflammation

How to use Auranofin

Take by mouth, usually once or twice a day with or without food. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. To decrease side effects such as upset stomach, your doctor may start you at a low dose (once a day) and slowly increase to twice a day.

Watch out for diarrhea or soft stools as it is experienced by most users of this medication. Consult your doctor.

Inform your doctor if you are receiving gold injections before starting with this medication.

It may take 3 to 4 months of therapy before you see the full benefits of this medication.

This medication can cause serious side effects such blood cell problems (e.g., anemia, low white blood cells/platelets), kidney problems, rash, itching, mouth sores/irritation (stomatitis), or persistent diarrhea. Low white blood cells can increase your risk of infection.  Consult your doctor if you experience such symptoms.

Side effects range from mild to serious.  Consult your doctor if you feel the following symptoms: Stomach/abdominal cramping occur usually within the first several hours after taking this medication, Nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn, and headache may also occur, eye redness/pain, hair loss, numbness/tingling of arms/legs, mouth/lip/throat sores (stomatitis). Mettallic taste may be the first sign of stomatitis; signs of low blood count (e.g., fast/pounding heartbeat, pale skin, unusual tiredness), easy bleeding/bruising, black/bloody stools, persistent cough, mucus/pus/blood in watery diarrhea, difficult/painful breathing, dizziness, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), severe stomach/abdominal pain, unusual tiredness, change in the amount/color of urine, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, yellowing eyes/skin.

Contact your doctor if you experience allergic reactions (rash, itching, swelling of the face/throat, trouble breathing) or symptoms mentioned above.

Precautions

Inform your doctor of your allergies, including food and drug allergies, the medications you are currently taking and your medical history, especially of: history of reaction to gold compound (e.g., blood disorders, kidney problems, lung problems, stomach/intestinal problems), bleeding problems, blood disorders (e.g., bone marrow depression), colitis/inflammatory bowel disease, eczema, certain lung problem (fibrosis), kidney disease, liver disease, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), recent radiation therapy.

This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

Do not take this medication if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.  It has bad effects on the unborn fetus. Consult your doctor for more details.  This medication also passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

This drug may have a very serious interaction with penicillamine.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical help immediately if overdose is suspected.

Missed Dose: Take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage: Store at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not freeze this medication. Do not flush in the toilet or drain the sink, discard drug properly.

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