Dapsone: function, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Dapsone?

What is dapsone used for?

Dapsone is a drug to treat leprosy or leprosy (Morbus Hansen's disease) and certain skin disorders (dermatitis herpetiformis).

This drug can also be used to treat or prevent pneumocystis pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, and to treat skin disorders caused by certain immune system disorders. For example, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Dapsone is a sulfone class antibitiotic. Dapsone works by reducing inflammation (inflammation) and stopping the growth of bacteria. This one antibiotic will not work for viral infections (eg, cold, flu).

Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can cause its effectiveness to decrease.

How do I use dapsone?

Take this medication with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor.

Medicines for stomach ulcers (for example, antacids, ranitidine, famotidine), or didanosine can prevent dapsone from being absorbed into your bloodstream, and may reduce its effectiveness. Therefore, give the distance between the drugs about 2 hours. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

If you are using dapsone to treat a skin disorder, your doctor may start your treatment at a low dose of dapsone and gradually adjust the dose to control your disease. If this medicine is taken to treat Hansen's disease or to prevent infection due to HIV, it is usually used for years or for life.

The dosage is based on your health condition and response to treatment. In children, the dosage is also adjusted based on age and body weight.

Use this medicine regularly for and if possible at the same hour in order to get optimal benefits.

Tell your doctor if your condition gets worse.

How do I save dapsones?

Dapsone is a drug that should be stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Dapsone dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of dapsone for adults?

• To treat leprosy, the dose of dapsone is 100 mg orally once a day
• To treat dermatitis herpetiformis, the dapsone dose is 50 mg orally once a day and continued for life. The dosage can be increased to 300 mg / day. The dose will be reduced during recovery and should be consumed as soon as possible.
• To treat pneumocystis pneumonia, the dapsone dose is 50 mg orally once a day.

What is the dose of dapsone for children?

• To treat leprosy, the dose of dapsone for children aged 10-14 years is 50 mg per day or 1-2 mg / kg / day (maximum 100 mg) orally once a day if the body weight is low.
• To treat pneumocystis pneumonia, the dapsone dose is 2 mg / kg / day (up to 100 mg) orally once a day.

In what dosage is dapsone available?

Dapsone is available as USP tablets: 25 mg, 100 mg

Dapsone side effects

What are the possible side effects of dapsone?

Generally, the side effects of dapsone are:

• Nausea
• Gag
• Blurred vision
• Ears buzzing
• Headache
• Increased skin sensitivity to sunlight

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Dapsone Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using dapsone?

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dapsone, sulfa drugs, phenylhydrazine, naphthalene, niridazole, nitrofurantoin, primaquine, or any other medication.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about drugs (prescription / non-prescription), vitamins, health supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using. Be sure to mention the following drugs: potassium aminobenzoate (Potaba), aminobenzoic acid, clofazimine (Lamprene), ddI (Videx), probenecid (Benemid), pyrimethamine (Daraprim), rifampin (Rifadin), trimethoprim (Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra), or vitamin. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had anemia or liver disease.
• Call your doctor if you are or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking dapsone, call your doctor.
• Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to the sun and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Dapsone can make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

Is dapsone safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, or the equivalent of the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration Agency.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Dapsone Drug Interactions

What medicines might interact with dapsone?

Although certain drugs should not be used together, in other cases two different drugs can be used together even if interactions are possible. In this case, your doctor may want to change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed. When you are using this medicine it is very important that your healthcare professional knows if you are currently taking any of the medicines that are listed below. The following interactions were selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not usually recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Warfarin
• Zidovuidine

Using this medication with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Amprenavir
• Atazanavir
• Rifabutin
• Rifapentine
• Saquinavir

Can food or alcohol interact with dapsone?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with dapsone?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, such as:

• Anemia
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
• Methemoglobin reductase deficiency
• Liver disease

Dapsone overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.