DAPSONE

Brand & Generic Names

Avlosulfon

DDS

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antibacterial (antileprosy), sulfone

Uses

• Treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Treatment of leprosy.
• Prevention and treatment of pneumocystis carnii pneumonia.
• Other uses include granuloma annulare, pemphigoid, pyoderma gangrenosum, polychondritis, eye ulcerations, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation.

When to take:
Once a day at same time.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Inhibits enzymes. Kills leprosy germs.

Time lapse before drug works:
3 years for leprosy.
1 to 2 weeks for dermatitis herpetiformis.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Bleeding, vomiting, seizures, cyanosis, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to- mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

• Rash, abdominal pain.
• Appetite loss.

Infrequent:

Pale.

Rare:

• Dizziness; mental changes; sore throat; fever; difficult breathing; bleeding; jaundice; numbness, tingling, pain or burning in hands or feet; swelling of feet, hands, eyelids; blurred vision; anemia; peeling skin.
• Headache; itching; nausea; vomiting; blue fingernails, lips.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You have G6PD* deficiency.
• You are allergic to furosemide, thiazide diuretics, sulfonureas, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, sulfonamides.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you take any other medicine.
• If you are anemic.
• If you have liver or kidney disease.
• If you are Negro or Caucasian with Mediterranean heritage.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
No problems expected, although there haven't been adequate human studies reported. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Use under close medical supervision only.

Prolonged use:

• Request liver function studies.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit).

Skin & sunlight:
Exposure may cause illness with swelling, spots on skin, fever.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:

• Dapsone may rarely cause liver damage.
• For full effect you may need to take dapsone for many months or years.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Aminobenzoic acid	Decreased dapsone
(PABA)	effect. Avoid.
Didanosine	Increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.
	Reduced absorption of both drugs.
Dideoxyinosine (ddl)	Decreased dapsone effect.
Hemolytics*	May increase adverse effects on blood
	cells.
Methotrexate	May increase blood toxicity.
Probenecid	Increased toxicity of dapsone.
Pyrimethamine	May increase blood toxicity.
Rifampin	Decreased effect of dapsone.
Trimethoprim	May increase blood toxicity.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Increased chance of toxicity to
	liver.
Beverages:	No problems expected.
Cocaine:	Increased chance of toxicity.
	Avoid.
Foods:	No problems expected.
Marijuana:	Increased chance of toxicity.
	Avoid.
Tobacco:	May interfere with absorption of
	medicine.