Each Auranofin Capsule, with opaque brown cap and opaque tan body, contains auranofin, 3 mg, and is imprinted with the product name RIDAURA. Inactive ingredients consist of benzyl alcohol, cellulose, cetylpyridinium chloride, D&C Red No. 33, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, gelatin, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate, starch, titanium dioxide and trace amounts of other inactive ingredients.
Auranofin Capsules (auranofin) is indicated in the management of adults with active classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (ARA criteria) who have had an insufficient therapeutic response to, or are intolerant of, an adequate trial of full doses of one or more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Auranofin Capsules should be added to a comprehensive baseline program, including non-drug therapies.
Unlike anti-inflammatory drugs, Auranofin Capsules does not produce an immediate response. Therapeutic effects may be seen after three to four months of treatment, although improvement has not been seen in some patients before six months.
When cartilage and bone damage has already occurred, gold cannot reverse structural damage to joints caused by previous disease. The greatest potential benefit occurs in patients with active synovitis, particularly in its early stage.
In controlled clinical trials comparing Auranofin Capsules with injectable gold, Auranofin Capsules was associated with fewer dropouts due to adverse reactions, while injectable gold was associated with fewer dropouts for inadequate or poor therapeutic effect. Physicians should consider these findings when deciding on the use of Auranofin Capsules in patients who are candidates for chrysotherapy.
Usual Adult Dosage:The usual adult dosage of Auranofin Capsules (auranofin) is 6 mg daily, given either as 3 mg twice daily or 6 mg once daily. Initiation of therapy at dosages exceeding 6 mg daily is not recommended because it is associated with an increased incidence of diarrhea. If response is inadequate after six months, an increase to 9 mg (3 mg three times daily) may be tolerated. If response remains inadequate after a three-month trial of 9 mg daily, Auranofin therapy should be discontinued. Safety at dosages exceeding 9 mg daily has not been studied.
In controlled clinical studies, patients on injectable gold have been transferred to Auranofin Capsules (auranofin) by discontinuing the injectable agent and starting oral therapy with Auranofin Capsules, 6 mg daily. When patients are transferred to Auranofin Capsules, they should be informed of its adverse reaction profile, in particular the gastrointestinal reactions. At six months, control of disease activity of patients transferred to Auranofin Capsules and those maintained on the injectable agent was not different. Data beyond six months are not available.
Full Prescribing Information: DailyMed
