Dapsone is an antibiotic, which is mainly used to treat leprosy and herpetiform dermatitis. It also suppresses the reproduction of mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis and pathogens of PCP, is effective against fungi and protozoa, including malarial plasmodia. In the form of cream Dapsone is used to treat acne. In some countries it is used for the prevention and therapy of bacterial infections and coccidiosis of cattle and poultry, as well as diseases of fish and crustaceans. It persists in the body for several days after administration and is excreted mainly by the kidneys. This substance penetrates into the milk.
In animal experiments, this medication showed carcinogenic properties: in rats and mice this substance promoted the development of tumors of the thyroid gland, spleen and peritoneum. In addition, it can cause hemolysis, the formation of methemoglobin, hemolytic anemia and other blood changes, dermatitis and erythema, liver damage. In addition, it is neurotoxic. However, since 1989, known mycobacteria are resistant to drug, which is usually used in combination with other drugs.
This is the only effective medication for treating and prevention of leprosy (with other drugs effective against this disease) and herpetiform dermatitis. Less commonly used in the treatment of red lichen planus, in the treating and prevention of PCP, prevention of toxoplasmosis, for the prevention of malaria and the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Medication is also used: in bullous pemphigoid (Dapsone in combination with corticosteroids and immunosuppressors or monotherapy with a mild course); in some cases for the treatment of vasculitis (in complex therapy). Also during last few years it is possible to buy it online and you can find it in every Greece online pharmacy or any country of the world.
The therapy is carried out against the background of a gluten-free diet (with the exception of products from wheat, rye, oats, barley, millet and other cereals, seafood rich in iodine, and restriction of consumption of table salt). It is inadmissible to take iodine-containing drugs, with caution should be used drugs containing other halogens. With prolonged Dapsone therapy, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the blood system because of the risk of developing hemolytic anemia.
Against the background of the use of Dapsone, general weakness, decreased appetite, indigestion, dizziness, headache, palpitations, pain in the heart, in some cases cyanosis, toxic hepatitis, and anemia may occur. With uncontrolled use of sulfonamide drugs in high doses or hypersensitivity to them, side effects associated with the formation of methemoglobin (cyanosis of the lips and nail phalanges, nausea, dizziness, etc.) may occur; in rare cases agranulocytosis develops. It is inadmissible simultaneous use of several sulfanilamide drugs or a drug change without an interval between courses.
It has been successfully used in the treatment of foci of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which do not respond to antimalarial drugs. Significant improvement is observed in about 50% of cases of subcutaneous cutaneous lupus erythematosus within a few weeks of treatment, but relapses occur frequently and rashes can sometimes worsen, possibly due to the sulfone component. The initial dose is 25-50 mg day; it can be increased to 150 mg day. Higher doses may cause a syndrome that resembles mononucleosis. Periodically observed compensatory hemolytic anemia, it can be corrected by the simultaneous administration of 700 units of vitamin E daily. Before prescribing a drug, patients should be evaluated for G-6-PD deficiency in order to avoid significant hemolytic anemia. Because of the risk of pancytopenia and resulting aplastic anemia, a complete blood test is performed every 2-3 weeks for the first 6 months of treatment. In addition, patients are regularly checked for impaired kidney and liver function.
In leprosy, the average daily dose is 50-100 mg (1-2 tablets) per day and to take the drug patients should for a long time for a number of years. In herpetiform dermatitis is prescribed Dapsone orally at 50-100 mg 2 r day, 5 days (4-5 courses at intervals of 1 to 2 days with a gradual dose reduction to 50-150 mg week followed by cancellation). It is the reduction of itching with the action of the drug the criterion of the correctness of the diagnosis. It has a toxic effect on neutrophils and reduces itching. The effect of the drug manifests itself quickly. If the drug does not work for 48-72 hours, then you should think about the wrong diagnosis. The number of courses and the maintenance dose depend on the severity of the skin process. The duration of therapy is determined not only by clinical efficacy, but also by the tolerability of the drug.
