Dapsone is an anti-infective medicine that fights bacteria.

Dapsone is used to treat dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin condition) and leprosy.

Dapsone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Dapsone may be only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include a special diet. Follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. Get familiar with the list of foods you must avoid to help control your condition.

Your doctor will need to check your progress while you are using dapsone.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Usual Adult Dose for Leprosy -- Lepromatous:

50 to 100 mg orally once a day for 2-5 years.

Usual Adult Dose for Leprosy -- Tuberculoid:

100 mg orally once a day for 6 months. Rifampin is additionally recommended to reduce the incidence of dapsone resistance. If the disease relapses, this regimen should be repeated.

Usual Adult Dose for Dermatitis Herpetiformis:

50 mg orally once a day continued on a life-long basis. Dosage may be advanced to 300 mg/day. Dosage reduction to a minimum maintenance level as soon as possible is recommended.

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumocystis Pneumonia:

100 mg orally once a day for 14 to 21 days. Used in combination with trimethoprim.

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumocystis Pneumonia Prophylaxis:

100 mg orally twice a week. Therapy should be continued on a life-long basis. The addition of pyrimethamine appears to significantly increase the activity of dapsone for PCP prophylaxis.

Usual Adult Dose for Toxoplasmosis -- Prophylaxis:

100 mg orally twice a week continued on a life-long basis.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Leprosy:

1 to 2 mg/kg (up to 100 mg) orally once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pneumocystis Pneumonia Prophylaxis:

> 1 month:
2 mg/kg/day (up to 100 mg) orally once a day.

Alternate dosing:
> 1 month:
4 mg/kg orally once weekly. Maximum dose = 200 mg.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Toxoplasmosis -- Prophylaxis:

> 1 month:

2 mg/kg/day (or 15 mg/m2) orally once a day. Maximum dose = 25 mg. Dapsone should be administered as part of combination therapy for prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis.

You should not use dapsone if you are allergic to it.

To make sure dapsone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency;

• methemoglobin reductase deficiency (hemoglobin M);

• liver disease;

• heart disease; or

• lung disease.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dapsone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Dapsone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using dapsone.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may vomiting, feeling restless or excited, and a pale or blue-colored appearance.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Dapsone may cause an upset stomach. Take dapsone with food or milk.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Dapsone can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Dapsone may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• worsening or no improvement in your symptoms;

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;

• unusual thoughts or behavior;

• new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing;

• swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating;

• signs of abnormal blood cell counts--sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing, pale skin, easy bruising, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

• pancreas problems--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;

• an autoimmune disorder--joint pain or swelling with fever, headaches, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, and butterfly-shaped skin rash on your cheeks and nose that worsens in sunlight; or

• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects of dapsone may include:

• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting;

• headache;

• dizziness or spinning sensation;

• blurred vision, ringing in your ears; or

• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other drugs may interact with dapsone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to dapsone.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.