DAPSONE oral

Select language:
Permalink
On this page

    Last updated: October 2023

     

    Prescription under medical supervision

     

     
    Due to the numerous and potentially severe adverse effects of dapsone, patients should be kept under close surveillance.

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Sulfone antibacterial, antileprotic

    Indications

    • Prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis and pneumocystosis, in combination with pyrimethamine and folinic acid
    • Treatment of pneumocystosis, in combination with trimethoprim
    • Paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy, in combination with rifampicin and clofazimine

    Forms and strengths

    • 50 mg and 100 mg tablets

    Dosage

    Prophylaxis of pneumocystosis only

    • Child: 2 mg/kg once daily (max. 100 mg daily)
    • Adult: 100 mg once daily

     

    Prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis and pneumocystosis

    • Child: 2 mg/kg once daily (max. 25 mg daily)
    • Adult: 200 mg once weekly or 50 mg once daily

     

    Treatment of pneumocystosis

    • Child: 2 mg/kg once daily (max. 100 mg daily)
    • Adult: 100 mg once daily

     

    Paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy

    • Child under 10 years: 2 mg/kg once daily
    • Child from 10 to 14 years: 50 mg once daily
    • Child 15 years and over and adult: 100 mg once daily

    Duration

    • Prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis and pneumocystosis: as long as necessary
    • Treatment of pneumocystosis: 21 days 
    • Paucibacillary leprosy: 6 months 
    • Multibacillary leprosy: 12 months

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Do not administer to patients with allergy to sulfones or severe anaemia (first treat anaemia).
    • Administer with caution to patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
    • May cause: haemolytic anaemia in patients with G6PD deficiency, dose-related haemolytic anaemia, neutropenia, methaemoglobinaemia, pruritus, rash, gastrointestinal disturbances, peripheral neuropathies, agranulocytosis; hypersensitivity reactions during the first month of treatment (fever, jaundice, hepatitis, adenopathy, exfoliative dermatitis, etc.) requiring permanent discontinuation of treatment.
    • Monitor blood count and transaminases if possible.
    • Monitor combination with zidovudine (increased haematological toxicity).
    • Pregnancy: no contra-indication
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Storage

     
    –  
     
    –  Below 25 °C