Dapsone (Dapsone)
Overview of Dapsone
Dapsone is an antibacterial agent. It acts as a bacteriostatic for a broad spectrum of gram negative and gram positive organisms. Dapsone is effective in treating leprosy and other skin conditions, malaria, arthritis, other inflammatory conditions and also in pneumocystis pneumonia. Dapsone is administered orally.
Indication of Dapsone
Dapsone is primarily indicated in conditions like Dermatitis herpetiformis, Leprosy, Malaria prophylaxis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis, and can also be given in adjunctive therapy as an alternative drug of choice in Actinomycotic mycetoma, Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Idiopathic skin conditions, Metastatic germ cell cancer, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, Relapsing polychondritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Squamous cell carcinoma, Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Contraindication of Dapsone
Dapsone is contraindicated in conditions like Anaemia,G6pd deficiency,Porphyria,Sulfone allergy.
Side Effects of Dapsone
The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Dapsone, which give rise to further complications include Hepatitis, Nephrotic syndrome, Peripheral neuropathy, Psychosis, Depression, Methemoglobinemia, Sulfhemoglobinemia, Anaemia.,Dapsone produces potentially life-threatening effects which include Agranulocytosis, Severe hemolytic anemia, Dapsone syndrome. which are responsible for the discontinuation of Dapsone therapy.,The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Dapsone include Nausea, Vomiting, Coma, Jaundice, Abdominal pain, Methemoglobinemia, Severe hemolytic anemia.,The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Dapsone are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Anorexia.
Precautions of Dapsone
Dapsone should be used only if clearly needed during pregnancy. Dapsone is not recommended during lactation. It should be used with caution in patients with any pre-existing blood disorders, liver disease, kidney disease, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency or allergies.