Dapsone (Dapsone) - Summary

DAPSONE SUMMARY

Dapsone-USP, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) is a primary treatment for Dermatitis herpetiformis. It is an antibacterial drug for susceptible cases of leprosy. It is a white, odorless crystalline powder, practically insoluble in water and insoluble in fixed and vegetable oils.

Dapsone is used to control the dermatologic symptoms of Dermatitis herpetiformis. Dapsone is used alone or in combination with other anti-leprosy drugs for leprosy.

SAFETY INFORMATION

Dapsone is contraindicated in patients with Dapsone hypersensitivity. Complete blood counts and laboratory monitoring should be done frequently. See labeling.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

[ dap 'soce ]

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Dermatitis herpetiformis: (D.H.)

Leprosy: All forms of leprosy except for cases of proven Dapsone resistance.

See all Dapsone indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Dapsone

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp: A review with a focus on dapsone therapy. [2011.11.08]
CONCLUSION: Our observations demonstrate topical dapsone 5% gel to be a novel, safe, and efficacious therapeutic alternative for mild to moderate EPDS. Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Dapsone gel 5% in combination with adapalene gel 0.1%, benzoyl peroxide gel 4% or moisturizer for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a 12-week, randomized, double-blind study. [2010.01]
PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dapsone gel 5% in the treatment of acne when used in combination with adapalene gel 0.1%, benzoyl peroxide gel 4% or moisturizer... CONCLUSION: Dapsone gel in combination with adapalene gel or benzoyl peroxide gel is safe and well tolerated for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Chlorproguanil-dapsone-artesunate versus chlorproguanil-dapsone: a randomized, double-blind, phase III trial in African children, adolescents, and adults with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. [2009.12]
This multi-center, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, double-dummy study compared the efficacy and safety of chlorproguanil-dapsone-artesunate (CDA) and chlorproguanil-dapsone (CPG-DDS) in the treatment of falciparum malaria in Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria)... However, the hemolytic potential in G6PD-deficient patients does not support further development of CDA.

Measurement of adherence, drug concentrations and the effectiveness of artemether-lumefantrine, chlorproguanil-dapsone or sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Malawi. [2009.08.26]
BACKGROUND: Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is the only single dose therapy for uncomplicated malaria, but there is widespread resistance. At the time of this study, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and chlorproguanil-dapsone (CPD), both multi-dose regimes, were considered possible alternatives to SP in Malawi. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of poor adherence on the effectiveness of AL and CPD... CONCLUSION: This study provides reassurance of the effectiveness of AL, even with unsupervised dosing, as it is rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa. Self-reported adherence appears to be an unreliable measure of adherence in this population.

Short report: comparison of chlorproguanil-dapsone with a combination of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and chloroquine in children with malaria in northcentral Nigeria. [2009.02]
Effective and affordable treatment of malaria is critical in the face of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine (CQ) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of chlorproguanil-dapsone (CD) with a combination SP plus CQ in children in Nigeria less than five years of age with malaria...

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Clinical Trials Related to Dapsone

A Phase II, Randomized Study of ACZONE™ (Dapsone) Gel, 5% for Papulopustular Rosacea. [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ACZONE™ gel compared to placebo (inactive substance), MetroGel® and a combination of ACZONE™ gel and MetroGel® for the treatment of rosacea.

ACZONE™ gel, 5% is a topical (applied to the skin) medication that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acne vulgaris in people 12 years and older. The use of ACZONE™ for the treatment of rosacea is investigational. An investigational use is one that is not approved by the FDA.

Subjects will apply the study treatment for 12 weeks. Efficacy assessments will be performed at baseline and Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. Laboratory assessments will be conducted at baseline and Week, 2, 4 and 12.

Use of Dapsone Gel, 5% for Treating Dermatitis Herpetiformis [Not yet recruiting]
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of dapsone gel, 5% in the treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis. The primary efficacy end point will be the proportion of patients achieving success based on mean % reduction from baseline in total lesion counts at week six. Success for lesion reduction will be defined as statistically greater mean percent reductions at week six in the dapsone gel-treated extremity compared with the control extremity of each patient.

Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Dapsone in Acne Vulgaris [Recruiting]
This study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of dapsone in subjects with acne vulgaris following 28 days of dosing.

Chlorproguanil-Dapsone-Artesunate (CDA) Versus Chlorproguanil-Dapsone (LAPDAP) For Uncomplicated Malaria [Completed]
CDA is a combination of chlorproguanil, dapsone and artesunate, being developed in a public-private partnership with the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), World Health Organisation (WHO-TDR) and academic partners from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine as a treatment for acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.

The combination of chlorproguanil HCl (CPG) and dapsone (DDS) as chlorproguanil-dapsone has already been shown to be efficacious against P. falciparum in adults and children in Sub-Sahara Africa. The addition of artesunate to LAPDAP has been demonstrated to increase the parasite kill rate as demonstrated in the phase II study, and reduce the chance of any parasites escaping treatment over the 3-day course. The addition of artesunate is also anticipated to have the population benefit of protection against the development of resistant strains of P. falciparum, although it will not be possible to demonstrate this in a clinical trial. One further population benefit of the artemisinin drugs are their ability to suppress the sexual forms of the parasite (gametocytes), which should reduce infectivity after antimalarial treatment and potentially lower transmission rates with widespread use, including the spread of any parasites resistant to the partner drug.

The aims of this phase III study are to compare the efficacy of a fixed ratio combination tablet of CDA to chlorproguanil-dapsone, and collect supporting safety data. This will be a multi-centre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised trial, in children, adolescents and adults, with chlorproguanil-dapsone as a comparator.

Pharmacokinetics Study of Dapsone-Adapalene Fixed Combination Gel in Acne [Not yet recruiting]
This study will investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of dapsone and adapalene following topical administration of 2 formulations of dapsone/adapalene fixed combination gel, dapsone 5% gel (ACZONE®), and adapalene 0. 3% gel (Differin®) in subjects with acne vulgaris.

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Reports of Suspected Dapsone Side Effects

Methaemoglobinaemia (14),  Pancytopenia (14),  Zygomycosis (13),  Toxicity TO Various Agents (12),  Haemolytic Anaemia (10),  Pyrexia (9),  Ophthalmoplegia (7),  Blindness Unilateral (6),  Haemodynamic Instability (5),  Herpes Zoster (5), more >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Dapsone review by 50 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Moderate Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		dermatitis herpetiformis
Dosage & duration:		200mg taken once a day for the period of 1 year and continuing
Other conditions:		celiac
Other drugs taken:		nil
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Dapsone treated the intensly itchy skin condition quickly and efficiently. A gluten free diet alone did not relieve this condition.
Side effects:		The side effects after one year have been a slight decrease in red blood count. There has also been an onset of shakyness which I believe has been a side effect.
Comments:		2-100mg tablets are taken at bedtime. The dosage is self medicating, which means that if the condition is under control I can lower the doseage to see if the contrlo can be maintained at a lower dose. So far, after one year, I have been unable to do so.