Tauredon

Gold preparations, which include Tauredon, are used to alleviate the condition of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Indications Tauredona

For over 80 years, Tauredon has been used to improve the condition of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, as well as psoriatic arthritis.

Release form

The gold preparation Tauredon is produced in the form of an injection solution - it is a yellowish transparent medicinal liquid, the active ingredient of which is sodium aurothiomalate. The solution is packaged in glass ampoules of 0.5 ml. A transparent cell plate contains five ampoules of Tauredon. A cardboard box contains two cell plates.

One ampoule can contain different dosages of the drug:

• Tauredon® 10: one ampoule contains 10 mg of active ingredient (this amount corresponds to 4.53 mg of gold).
• Tauredon® 20: the ampoule contains 20 mg of active ingredient (this amount corresponds to 9.06 mg of gold).
• Tauredon® 50: the ampoule contains 50 mg of active ingredient (this amount corresponds to 22.65 mg of gold).

Injection water acts as an auxiliary component.

Pharmacodynamics

The gold compound-based drug has the ability to inhibit antibody production in lymphocytes and plasma cells. Tauredon is considered a key drug in therapeutic regimens used for autoimmune diseases.

Tauredon provokes inhibition of antigen-induced activation of lymphocyte cells, inhibits phagocytosis of monocytes and granulocytes, normalizes lysosome membranes, strengthens collagen fibers with filling of immunoactive zones, which can give impetus to the development of an autoimmune process.

Tauredon should be taken for a long time: the first signs of improvement in the condition may be observed only after 9-17 weeks of treatment, with a total course dosage of gold of 300-800 mg.

Pharmacokinetics

The maximum concentration of Tauredon in serum is detected 3-6 hours after administration. Increased gold content is observed in the tissue layers of the reticuloendothelial system.

A relatively large amount of the drug is recorded in the adrenal glands and in the cortex of the renal parenchyma. An insignificant amount of gold is noted in muscle and bone tissue.

Tauredon forms a nearly complete bond with plasma proteins. After 24 hours, about 75% of the level recorded six hours after the injection is detected in the blood.

On average, 83-90% of the active ingredient is excreted from the body through the urinary system, and only up to 17% with feces.

If the weekly dose of Tauredon is 50 mg, then the gold concentration equilibrium is reached after 6 weeks. If the patient is given two weekly injections of 25 mg, then the serum gold level before the next injection may be about 3.5 μg per ml.

The half-life of Tauredon can be about 27 days.

Dosing and administration

Injection of Tauredon is carried out deep into the gluteal muscle. Other methods of administration of the drug are not practiced.

The contents of the ampoule must not be exposed to heat.

There are no standard dosages of Tauredon: the amount of the drug is selected strictly individually.

Taking into account kinetic data, Tauredon treatment begins with a trial administration – to assess the tolerability of the medication, to select the correct dosage. Then the doctor determines the maintenance dose of Tauredon, which could provide a stable gold content in the circulatory system and tissues.

Most often, at the first stage, the doctor prescribes two injections of Tauredon per week, according to the following scheme:

• I-III injection involves the administration of 10 mg of medication (Tauredon 10);
• IV-VI injection involves the administration of 20 mg of the drug (Tauredon 20);
• from VII injections of 50 mg of the drug (Tauredon 50) twice a week, or 100 mg once a week (two doses of Tauredon 50).

This amount of the drug should be maintained until a visible effect is achieved, but the total amount of 1600 mg should not be exceeded. If the total amount has already been reached and clinical relief has not occurred, then further treatment with Tauredon is considered inappropriate.

If clinical improvement is evident, then further maintenance treatment is prescribed using a monthly dose of 100 mg, or 50 mg once every two weeks. Such therapy can be continued for several months or even years, at the discretion of the doctor.

In pediatrics, Tauredon is administered until the saturation stage at 0.7-1 mg per kg of the child's weight per week. In the maintenance treatment option, a dosage of 1 mg per kg of weight is used 1-2 times monthly.

Administration of Tauredon to children is discontinued if no clinical effect from treatment occurs within 6-9 months.

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Use Tauredona during pregnancy

Pregnancy and lactation are contraindications for treatment with the drug Tauredon.

Contraindications

• Disorders of hematopoietic processes.
• Kidney dysfunction and severe liver disease.
• Pulmonary tuberculosis in the active phase.
• Common connective tissue pathologies (collagenoses).
• Tendency to allergic reactions, hypersensitivity to heavy metal compounds and gold.
• Ulcerative enterocolitis and colitis.
• Diabetes mellitus with complications.
• Periods of pregnancy and lactation.

Side effects Tauredona

Approximately 30% of patients experience side effects while taking Tauredon. These effects may include:

• dermatitis, mouth ulcers;
• protein in urine;
• itchy skin;
• anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia;
• bile stasis, liver dysfunction, pancreatitis;
• increased hair loss, increased reaction to ultraviolet rays.

At the very beginning of treatment, transient symptoms such as increased heart rate, skin rashes, headaches, fever, decreased blood pressure, and epigastric pain may be observed.

If the side effects are severe, the doctor may reconsider the prescription and cancel Tauredon.

Overdose

Overdose of Tauredon is relatively common, even with normal therapy. In most cases, signs of overdose are more pronounced side effects.

If the patient experiences aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia during Tauredon injections, or develops enterocolitis, then he or she may be prescribed a blood transfusion followed by treatment with glucocorticosteroids. To accelerate the removal of gold from the circulatory system and tissues, dimercaprol or H-acetylcysteine is prescribed.

If a patient develops a vasomotor reaction with a sharp decrease in blood pressure, then urgent anti-shock therapy is required.

Interactions with other drugs

Tauredon injections often cause multiple side effects. In order not to increase the frequency of these effects, the drug should not be combined with certain other substances:

• phenylbutazone;
• cytostatic drugs;
• metamizole;
• photosensitizing agents.

Tauredon may impair the therapeutic effect of D-penicillamine.

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Storage conditions

Store Tauredon in a darkened room with a temperature of +15 to +25°C. The medicine should not be in the sight of children.

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Shelf life

Tauredon can be stored for up to 3 years from the date of production.