Formulary
Dapsone: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Dapsone clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Dapsone: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Dapsone clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Multibacillary leprosy in combination with rifampicin and clofazimine (3-drug regimen),Paucibacillary leprosy in combination with rifampicin (2-drug regimen)**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): (body-weight 35 kg and above) 100 mg daily, may be self-administered.
**Dermatitis herpetiformis**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): (consult product literature or local protocols).
**Treatment of mild to moderatePneumocystis jirovecii(Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia (in combination with trimethoprim)**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Treatment of mild to moderate Pneumocystis jirovecii ( Pneumocystis carinii ) pneumonia (in combination with trimethoprim) 100 mg once daily.
**Prophylaxis ofPneumocystis jirovecii(Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Prophylaxis of Pneumocystis jirovecii ( Pneumocystis carinii ) pneumonia 100 mg daily.
**Treatment of mild to moderate Pneumocystis jirovecii (Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia (in combination with trimethoprim) for dapsone**
- **Child 1 month-11 years** (By mouth): 2 mg/kg once daily (max. per dose 100 mg).
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 100 mg once daily.
**Prophylaxis of Pneumocystis jirovecii (Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia for dapsone**
- **Child** (By mouth): 2 mg/kg once daily (max. per dose 100 mg).
Cautions
Anaemia (treat severe anaemia before starting); avoid in Acute porphyrias ; cardiac disease; G6PD deficiency (avoid in severe deficiency); pulmonary disease; susceptibility to haemolysis Cautions, further information Susceptibility to haemolysis Patients deficient in G6PD or methaemoglobin reductase, or with haemoglobin M are more susceptible to the haemolytic effects of dapsone.
Side effects
Common or very common Haemolysis; methaemoglobinaemia Uncommon Appetite decreased; haemolytic anaemia; headache; hepatic disorders; hypoalbuminaemia; insomnia; nausea; peripheral neuropathy; photosensitivity reaction; psychosis; skin reactions; tachycardia; vomiting Rare or very rare Agranulocytosis; severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) Side-effects, further information If drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) occurs (rash with fever and eosinophilia)-discontinue immediately (may progress to exfoliative dermatitis, hepatitis, hypoalbuminaemia, psychosis and death).
Interactions
**Other interactions (4):**
- Oral typhoid vaccine: should not be taken until at least three days after finishing a course of dapsone, because the dapsone could make this vaccine less effective.
- Probenecid: concurrent administration results in a reduction of dapsone excretion, and increase in dapsone plasma concentrations.
- Rifampicin / Rifabutin: has been reported to increase the plasma clearance of dapsone.
- Trimethoprim: increased dapsone and trimethoprim concentrations have been reported following concurrent administration in AIDS patients.
Pregnancy
Folic acid (higher dose) should be given to mother throughout pregnancy; neonatal haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia reported in third trimester.
Breast feeding
Haemolytic anaemia; although significant amount in milk, risk to infant very small unless infant is G6PD deficient.
Medicinal forms
Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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