Brand Names

How to Use

For diseaseds taking dapsone for leprosy:

• To help clear up your leprosy completely or to keep it from coming back, it is very important that you keep taking this drug for the full time of treat , even if you begin to feel better after a few weeks or months. You may have to take it every day for as long as 3 years or more, or for life. If you stop taking this drug too soon, your symptoms may return.
• This drug works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Always it is best to take each dose at the same time every day . If you need help in planning the best time to take your drug, check with your health care professional.

For diseaseds taking dapsone for dermatitis herpetiformis:

• Your family doctor may want you to follow a gluten-free diet. If you have any questions about this, check with your family doctor.

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking dapsone .

• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For Hansen's disease - leprosy:
    • Adults and teenagers 50 to 100 milligrams - mg once a day; or 1.4 mg per kilogram - kg - 0.6 mg per pound of body weight once a day. Dapsone must be taken with other medication to treat Hansen's disease.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 1.4 mg per kg - 0.6 mg per pound of body weight once a day. Dapsone must be taken with other medication to treat Hansen's disease.
  • For dermatitis herpetiformis:
    • Adults and teenagers 50 mg once a day to start. Your family doctor will increase your dose, up to 300 mg once a day, until your symptoms are controlled. Then your dose will be decreased to the lowest dose that will still control your symptoms.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 2 mg per kg - 0.9 mg per pound of body weight once a day to start. Your family doctor will increase your dose until your symptoms are controlled. Then your dose will be decreased to the lowest dose that will still control your symptoms.

Missed dose You may skip a missed dose if it does not make your symptoms come back or get worse. If your symptoms do come back or get worse, take the missed dose as soon as possible. Then go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.