Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet
- 25mg
- 100mg
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
50 mg PO qDay, titrate to 300 mg qDay or higher to achieve desired effect
Reduce dose to minimum effective dose within the range of 50-300 mg qDay as soon as possible
Leprosy
100 mg PO qDay, in combination with other antileprosy drugs
Tuberculoid or Lepromatous Disease
100 mg PO qDay with rifampin 600 mg PO qDay
Pneumocystis (Carinii) Jiroveci (Off-label)
Prophylaxis
- 100 mg PO qDay or divided BID as monotherapy, OR
- 50 mg qDay in combination with weekly pyrimethamine and leucovorin
Treatment
- 100 mg PO qDay in combination with trimethoprim for 21 days
Toxoplasmosis (Orphan)
Prophylaxis in severely immunocompromised patients (CD4 count <100)
Orphan indication sponsor
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company, Inc; 37 Cleveland Lane, P.O. Box 5290; Princeton, NJ 08540
Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet
- 25mg
- 100mg
Leprosy
1-2 mg/kg PO qDay; not to exceed 100 mg/day in combination with other antileprosy agents
Dosing considerations
- Administer for 3 years (minimum) in combination with multidrug regimen (ie, rifampin)
Pneumocystis (Carinii) Jiroveci (Off-label)
Prophylaxis
Treatment
- >1 month old: 2 mg/kg PO qDay in combination with trimethoprim for 21 days
- Adolescents: 100 mg PO qDay in combination with trimethoprim for 21 days
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results
Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor
Adverse Effects
1-10%
Hemolysis
Methemoglobinemia
<1%
Reactional states (ie, abrupt changes in clinical activity occurring during any leprosy treatment; classified as reversal of erythema nodosum leprosum reactions)
Insomnia
Headache
Exfoliative dermatitis
Photosensitivity
Nausea
Vomiting
Anemia
Leukopenia
Agranulocytosis
Hepatitis
Cholestatic jaundice
Peripheral neuropathy (usually in nonleprosy patients)
Blurred vision
Tinnitus
SLE
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to drug or component
Cautions
May cause blood dyscrasias (eg, agranulocytosis); monitor closely
Peripheral neuropathy may occur
Toxic epidermal necrolysis and other dermatologic reactions may occur
Use caution when treating patients with hypersensitivity to sulfonamides
Bacterial and fungal superinfections may occur from prolonged treatments
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: Enters breast milk; not recommended (AAP Committee states "compatible with nursing")
Pregnancy Categories
A:Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B:May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C:Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D:Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X:Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA:Information not available.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Sulfone; prevents normal bacterial utilization of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) for the synthesis of folic acid by acting as a competitive antagonist of PABA; it is bactericidal and bacteriostatic against Mycobacterium leprae
Absorption
Well absorbed
Peak plasma time: 4-8 hr (after ingestion)
Distribution
Protein bound: 70-90% (dapsone); 99% (metabolite)
Vd: 1.5 L/kg; throughout total body water and present in all tissues, especially liver and kidney
Metabolism
Hepatic P450 enzymes CYP2E1, CYP3A4
Elimination
Half-life: 28 hr
Excretion: Urine (85%) as metabolites
Images
Patient Handout
Formulary
Adding plans allows you to compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
To view formulary information first create a list of plans. Your list will be saved and can be edited at any time.
Adding plans allows you to:
- View the formulary and any restrictions for each plan.
- Manage and view all your plans together – even plans in different states.
- Compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
- Access your plan list on any device – mobile or desktop.
