Myochrysine Injection and/or Equivalents

Myochrysine Injection

Myochrysine Injection Drug Description

Myochrysine Injection is the brand name of a medication that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) formulation prescribed for patients who cannot use or have not responded to other medications for the treatment of arthritis. Myochrysine Injection is often indicated as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan for patients suffering from RA, including non-drug treatments like physical therapy, rest etc. The prime ingredient in Myochrysine Injection is gold sodium thiomalate. The preparation is a mixture of monosodium and disodium salts of gold thiomalic acid. It is often referred to as gold shots, gold injections or injectible gold. Although gold sodium thiomalate is not a genuine pain reliever, it is effective in relieving morning stiffness in patients suffering from RA. It can also alleviate swelling or pain in the joints and improve grip strength. The injection is applied by the intramuscular route, usually in the buttocks i.e. gluteal muscles. Myochrysine Injection is an aqueous sterile solution containing 50mg / 25mg / 10mg of gold sodium thiomalate per ml. It also contains benzyl alcohol 0.5% as a preservative. The injection is available in boxes containing five ampoules each. In Canada, Myochrysine Injection is presented by Sanofi-Aventis.

Conditions Treated by Myochrysine Injection

Myochrysine Injection is prescribed in the treatment of both juvenile and adult RA for partial or complete remission. The best benefits of this medication can be obtained when used in the early stages of RA. In advanced stages, the medication may be beneficial is preventing further degeneration of the affected joints but cannot reverse the damage already caused. It is usually prescribed when the patient continues to show further damage despite being treated with other anti-inflammatory drugs or salicylates. Myochrysine Injection can also benefit patients suffering from Felty’s syndrome or psoriatic arthritis.

Myochrysine Injection Dosage Information

a.) Typical dosage recommendations

Like all other prescription drugs, typical dosage of Myochrysine Injection depends on individual condition, age, body weight, tolerance level and other medical conditions of the patient. The usual adult dose is 10mg IM (intra-muscular) once a week for the first week, 25mg once a week during the second week followed by 25 to 50mg of weekly injections for the next twenty weeks or till toxicity sets in. After this, patients with good or moderate tolerance level and improvement can be administered a maintenance dose of 50mg IM over a period of two to four weeks to be continued indefinitely. The usual paediatric dose of Myochrysine Injection is 10mg IM once weekly for the first week. This is followed by a maintenance dose of 1mg per kg of body weight per week. Under no circumstances should the dosage be more than 50mg/dose. To get the best benefit from Myochrysine Injection, it is important to receive the injections regularly and on time as mentioned by the physician.

b.) Missing a dose

Since Myochrysine Injection is given once a week, it is important for you not to miss a particular dose. Inform your physician in case you have missed an appointment so that he/she can reschedule your appointment and administer the injection as soon as possible. However, a double dose should never be administered to compensate a missed dose.

c.) Overdosing

Seek immediate medical attention in case you have overdosed Myochrysine Injection. In severe cases, overdoses of gold sodium thiomalate leads to heavy metal poisoning which can even become fatal. Typical symptoms of overdosing include painful urination (with or without blood in the urine), diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, rashes in the mouth, itching, etc. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning include dermatitis, stomatitis, pruritus, hematuria etc. Treatment with Myochrysine Injection is to be discontinued immediately following an overdose and supportive treatment initiated for specific medical conditions.

Myochrysine Injection Warnings

Before commencing treatment with Myochrysine Injection, your doctor should know everything about your present and past medical history. S/he should also know if you are allergic to gold or have previously experienced any severe adverse effects with gold therapy like exfoliative dermatitis, hematological disorders like bone marrow aplasia, pulmonary fibrosis or necrotizing enterocolitis. In some cases, exposure to sunlight while undergoing treatment with Myochrysine Injection can cause bluish-gray colouration on your skin. To avoid this, always use a sunscreen and wear protective garments. Your physician should also know if you have a history of cardiac or renal disorders, blood disorder, problem in the lungs, eczema, diabetes, gastric disorder (like colitis or inflammatory bowel diseases), hepatic disorder, or systemic lupus erythematosus. You should also mention if you have recently undergone radiation therapy or using penicillamine preparation or any cytotoxic drugs. Your physician should know if you are pregnant, plan to become so or nursing your baby. Always store Myochrysine Injection in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight. It should be stored in a safe place where children or pets cannot access it. Never share your medicine with another person or discontinue treatment without consulting your physician.

Myochrysine Injection Side Effects

As with all other medications, Myochrysine Injection too has some side effects. However, these vary from patient to patient and depend on individual factors and tolerance level. Typical side effects from Myochrysine Injection treatment include the following:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Flushing
• Increase in joint pain
• Mood changes
• Pain in the eyes
• Hair loss
• Tingling sensation in the arms or legs or a feeling of numbness
• Seizures
• Soreness in the mouth, lip or throat
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Difficulty in breathing
• Erratic heartbeat
• Black or tarry stools
• Soreness or itching in the vagina
• Discolouration of the skin
• Skin rash

Inform your physician immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms as you will then require supportive treatment or your doctor may even discontinue treatment with Myochrysine Injection.

Myochrysine Injection Drug Interactions

It is common for the active and inactive molecules of different drugs to interact with each other. Myochrysine Injection interacts with penicillamine, phenylbutazone, phenytoin, immunosuppressants and anti-malarian drugs. Before commencing treatment with Myochrysine Injection, your physician should therefore know all about other prescription/non-prescription drugs you are using presently, including vitamins, dietary supplement, herbal products etc. You should also mention everything about any addictions you have, particularly to tea, coffee, alcohol, nicotine or drugs.

If you have any questions about buying discount Myochrysine Injection online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.