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Conventional DMARD — Gold Salt (Historical DMARD)

Sodium Aurothiomalate (Gold)

Brand names: Myocrisin

Sodium aurothiomalate is an injectable gold compound used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in rheumatoid arthritis.

Dosing — no UK product information found

We found no UK product information (SmPC) for this medicine or presentation on the eMC or MHRA Products (checked October 2026). It may be unlicensed in the UK, imported, a medical device, or no longer marketed. ClinCalc Pro shows only doses it can trace to official product information, so none is shown — follow your specialist service or local guideline.

Clinical monograph

How it works

Gold is taken up by synovial macrophages and modulates immune and inflammatory responses, although the exact mechanism reducing joint inflammation is incompletely understood.

Prescribing in practice

  • It can cause serious bone marrow suppression and nephrotoxicity, so blood counts and urinalysis must be checked before each dose and treatment withheld if abnormalities arise.
  • Given by deep intramuscular injection, typically with a small test dose before the first full dose.
  • It is now seldom used, having been superseded by methotrexate and biologic therapies.

Monitoring

Check full blood count and urine for protein before every injection, as recommended in current prescribing references, and review the skin and mucous membranes for reactions.

Counselling the patient

  • Report any rash, mouth ulcers, sore throat, bruising or bleeding without delay.
  • Attend for the required blood and urine tests before each injection.

Evidence & guidelines

Injectable gold is a long-established disease-modifying agent but is now rarely used owing to toxicity and the availability of more effective alternatives.

Reference: BSR/BHPR RA Guidelines; SPC Myocrisin; DMARD Prescribing Guidelines (NHSE); Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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