Date: 05.02.2011
From: Steve
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Subject: Gold injections for PA
Hi, Does anyone have any feedback on Gold injections ? I had my first one for PA last week and two days later felt awful, had an extremely bad headache and felt sick all day, although my headache eased it lasted 2 days, I have been on everything else and this was seen as a last resort but I'm not sure I can cope with the side effects any support would be great.
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Date: 05.02.2011
From: cookie
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
My understanding is that gold injections are falling out of fashion a little in favour of biological treatments i dont believe they are as widely used as they were once so havent really heard much about side effects sorry
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Date: 06.02.2011
From: steve
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Thanks Cookie, I have asked my Dr about Etanercept but he was very reluctant for me to try them, with out giving any reason other than if MTX didn't work these wouldn't which is odd as surely it depends on the person. I think i'll ask to stop the Gold injections as the negatives outway the positives :(
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Date: 06.02.2011
From: Lynn B
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Steve I may be wrong but MTX is the first thing they try you on, If that doesnt work then you should have a lot more to choose from there are a number of drugs they can try, unless you have any other medical conditions that you are on medication for?.
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Date: 06.02.2011
From: Steve
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Hi Lynn, Believe it or not i've tried most things Naprox,MTX, Sulphar Sulazine, Lufenomide, you name it, ive had it PA for 15 years now, Lufenomide worked for 2 years then things got worse so the Dr wanted to try the gold injections but these just made me feel awful after just 5mg. I feel like i'm at my wits end it all seems to make me sick. I'm wondering if I should consider changing my Dr?
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Date: 06.02.2011
From: Lynn B
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Well its a thought I suppose, has he not asked you about Anti TNF they are the next things to try , but as they are so expensive? I also have PA, and psoriasis I have had P since i was 13 months old and the PA for a long long time,but only had the pa diagnosed just in the last 2yrs. I have been lucky and I am on a drug trial at the moment for the PA, It lasts for 2yrs and i am now 4months in to it. I am completely clear of psoriasis, and a lot of pain and swelling has eased fingers crossed it just gets better. I think maybe you should go have another talk to you doc, if he isnt helpful then maybe you should consider changing... Let us know how you get on I wish you luck, and take care.
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Date: 08.02.2011
From: louloubelle
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Hi Steve, I've had PA for the last 22 years (since I was 9) and was given gold injections when I was 15 and revising for GCSEs. I had a bad reaction to them but hadn't realised. I would sleep in my lunch break and then sleep for 12 hours at night. Then one day I couldn't really wake up and slept for about 20 hours (my parents had gone to work and left me on exam leave so hadn't realised I wasn't very well. I had a rash, fever and hallucinated. The doc stopped giving the Gold and I was fine pretty quickly. My rheumy has put me on sulfasalazine, cyclosporin, and mtx without success. I was then put on etanercept (anti tnf) eight years ago and it turned my life around. The Psoriasis which covered about 80% of my body had all but gone within weeks. I noticed an improvement in my joints immediately in that I drove quite a long distance when i left after my first injection and wasn't crippled in pain! The Psoriatic arthritis was symptom free in about 3 months! I have had the odd flare up since but they are a lot shorter and a million times less crippling then before anti-tnf. I am gutted as, due to other health reasons, I have been unable to take the anti-tnf for the last year and it looks unlikely that I'll be going back on it in the near future. I have gone from being able to walk four miles at a time on my health kick 18 months ago to being pushed around in a wheel chair when I want to go shopping. According to my rheumy, 80% of PA sufferers respond well to anti-tnf and they won't put you on anti-tnf without having tried mtx first. Hope that helps Lou x
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Date: 08.02.2011
From: steve
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Thanks for your responses guys, I described my reaction to the dr and he immediately said no more Gold Injections, he is putting me back on the Lufenomide. i have heard such good things about the anti-tnf drugs but he flat refuses to try me on them which i can only guess is because of the cost! I have had this since i was 17 but i guess i've been lucky until now as its only since Christmas I have noticed a major down turn, I have always been determined to try and not let this affect me to much and it helps to know your not alone x
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Date: 08.02.2011
From: Maz
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
It may not be just the cost that makes him hesitant? I am guessing you are in the UK? which means the unusually cold weather wouldn't be helping either! As you have tried most everything would you consider antibiotic treatment??
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Date: 09.02.2011
From: steve
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Subject: Re: Gold injections for PA
Hi Maz, I am in the UK and yes the cold does seem to make it worse but again only this year,maybe i'm getting old :)to be honest right now i'd try anything, i've always asked to be on a drugs trail but nothings ever come of it.
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