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Gold Salts For Rheumatoid
Arthritis
The use of gold salts in medicine goes back to 1929. Back then
it was used mostly for the reduction of inflammations as well
as to slow the progression of disease in patients suffering
from rheumatoid arthritis. They are still used today for this
same purpose, as well as for different industrial
processes.
Injections Are More Effective Than Orally Taken Gold
Salts
At present gold salts is sometimes used to treat children with
juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Gold salts for rheumatoid
arthritis can be administered orally or through intramuscular
injection, and in the latter instance, is administered every
week for approximately three to five months before reducing the
frequency. It has been found, after studying the effects of
gold salts for rheumatoid arthritis that treatment with
intramuscular gold helps to lessen disease activity as well as
joint inflammation. Orally taken gold salts are less
effective.
There is, however, no clear understanding about how gold salts
actually work, though they do accumulate in the body and with
time, reduce inflammation as well as slow down the progress of
rheumatoid arthritis. There is, however, the possibility of
side effects that can develop after significant amounts of gold
has accumulated in the body.
The side effects of oral intake are fewer as compared with
injections into the muscles, and common side effects of orally
taken gold salts include reduced appetite, nausea as well as
diarrhea, and problems with the skin, kidney, and blood and, in
rare instances, lungs. When gold salts are injected into the
muscles, side effects can take the form of itchy skin rashes as
well as mouth sores.
Normally, three months after taking gold salts for rheumatoid
arthritis, symptoms will noticeably improve and it is also
necessary for having regular urine tests to check for protein
that will indicate if there has been damage to the kidney or
not. Blood tests are also required, as too, is regularly
visiting the doctor, and having frequent lab tests. Taking gold
salts for rheumatoid arthritis can also be quite expensive.
There are different types of gold salts for rheumatoid
arthritis including Auranofin, Aurothioglucose, Disodium
aurothiomalate, sodium aurothiosulfate and Sodium
aurothiomalate. The oral gold salts for rheumatoid arthritis
used include Ridaura and the intramuscular drugs prescribed go
by the name of Solganal and Aurolate, and
Myochrysine.
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