Dapsone (By mouth)
DAP-sone
Treats leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis. This medicine is a sulfone antibiotic.
Drug classes
Leprostatic (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Dapsone , a sulfone, belongs to the family of medicines called anti-infectives.
Dapsone is used to treat leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and to help control dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin problem. When it is used to treat leprosy, dapsone may be given with one or more other medicines. Dapsone may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Dapsone is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not specifically included in product labeling, dapsone is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Actinomycotic mycetoma
Granuloma annulare
Malaria (prevention of)
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Relapsing polychondritis
Subcorneal pustular dermatosis
For patients taking this medicine for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP):
To help clear up PCP completely or to keep it from coming back, it is very important that you keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. This will help keep a constant amount of medicine in the blood. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
If your symptoms do not improve within 1 week, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some medicines can affect how dapsone works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
Pyrimethamine Rifampin TrimethoprimWhen Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not use it if you had an allergic reaction to dapsone or other sulfa drugs.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have anemia or other blood problems, liver disease, or a G6PD deficiency.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Aplastic anemia and other severe blood problems Liver problemsYour doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
Pinpoint red or purple spots on your skin
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Unusual tiredness or weakness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug