Details

Dapsone is an anti-infective medicine that fights bacteria. Dapsone is used to treat dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin condition) and leprosy. To make sure dapsone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency methemoglobin reductase deficiency (haemoglobin M) liver disease heart disease or lung disease. You should not breastfeed while using dapsone.

Typical Uses

Dapsone is used to treat a certain type of skin disorder (dermatitis herpetiformis). It is also used with other drugs to treat Hansen's disease. Dapsone belongs to a class of drugs known as sulfones. It works by decreasing swelling (inflammation) and stopping the growth of bacteria. This medication will not work for viral infections (e.g., common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness. Dapsone may also be used to treat or prevent a certain lung infection due to HIV (pneumocystis pneumonia), to prevent a certain brain infection due to HIV (toxoplasmosis), and to treat skin conditions in certain immune system disorders (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus-SLE).

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of dapsone include worsening or no improvement in your symptoms jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) numbness or tingling in your hands or feet unusual thoughts or behaviour new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating signs of abnormal blood cell counts-sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing, pale skin, easy bruising, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin pancreas problems-severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate an autoimmune disorder-joint pain or swelling with fever, headaches, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, and butterfly-shaped skin rash on your cheeks and nose that worsens in sunlight or severe skin reaction-fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Drug Interactions

• Dapsone+sodium nitrite- When use of sodium nitrite is required, the doctor should be told if you have been receiving treatment with dapsone. Sodium nitrite can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to different organs, and combining the medication with dapsone may increase the risk. Your doctor will need to monitor you closely and possibly take extra precautions for you to safely use these medications together.

• Dapsone+clozapine- Using clozapine together with dapsone is not recommended. Clozapine can lower white blood cell count and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as dapsone may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.

• Dapsone+deferiprone- Deferiprone can lower white blood cell count, and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as dapsone may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.

• Dapsone+prilocaine- Talk to your doctor before using prilocaine together with dapsone. Prilocaine can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to different organs, and combining the medication with dapsone may increase the risk. Infants and patients with certain conditions such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or anaemia are more likely to develop this condition.

Mechanism of action

Dapsone slows the bacterial growth by preventing folic acid synthesis in susceptible organisms.

Pregnancy Category : C