Understanding Dapsone (Aczone)

Dapsone is a prescription sulfone antibiotic. It was first used to treat leprosy in the 1940s! Acne patients receive this medication as a topical ointment. Other patients, such as those with dermatitis herpetiformis, take oral tablets! Individuals often need this medication for up to six months or for the rest of their life for certain conditions. The dose changes based on their condition! Dermatitis herpetiformis patients start with a daily dose of fifty milligrams. Regardless of their condition, patients need lab tests and regular follow-up appointments when they take this medication.

It is clear that topical dapsone is a prescription acne treatment. Patients will apply it as a topical cream for acne! Of course, they also have other antibiotics for acne. This medication is also used as a leprosy treatment. Many patients need oral dapsone with other medicines to prevent antibiotic resistance. Understanding how this antibiotic works is vital when patients are prescribed it.

How It Works

Dapsone is often sold as Aczone for treating acne. It is a sulfone antibiotic, which means that it stops bacteria growth. It does this by blocking dihydrofolic acid synthesis by creating competition with PABA. This acid is a derivative of vitamin B9!

This medication is also an anti-inflammatory. It will block the action of MPO, a peroxidase enzyme, in the body. The result is that hypochlorous acid cannot build in the body. Thus, individuals reduce tissue damage from inflammation! Experts state that this also reduces inflammation from conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and strokes.

Continue reading to uncover the uses of this medication next.

Uses

Oral tablets of this medication treat dermatitis herpetiformis in children and adults. These tablets even treat both lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy! Some patients take this antibiotic along with other medications as a treatment for Hansen's disease. Reports indicate that it also treats pneumocystis pneumonia and malaria! Doctors prescribe it as a prevention method for certain cases of toxoplasmosis. Many individuals use a topical form to treat severe acne!

In most cases, patients need to take other medicines alongside this antibiotic. Certain leprosy patients need rifampin to help reduce the risk of becoming resistant to dapsone. Pneumocystis pneumonia patients also need trimethoprim with this medication to treat their condition.

Discover the side effects of this medication next!

Side Effects

This medication has a variety of side effects! The most common are blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, appetite loss, and vomiting. Many patients also deal with ringing in the ears and headaches. Sleeping problems and spinning sensations occur as well! Patients need to consult their doctor when these side effects persist or worsen.

Less common side effects include a fast heart rate, urination problems, chest pain, and rapid breathing. Some individuals will experience blue lips and skin! Muscle weakness is another less common side effect, as are mood and mental state changes. Rare side effects of this medication are liver disease and low blood counts. The warning signs of these effects are pale skin, pain in the abdomen, jaundice, and dark urine. Patients need urgent medical care for these symptoms! They also need this care for signs of an infection, such as a sore throat, fever, and chills.

Get the information on this medication's side effects next!

Precautions

Patients need to review their medical history with their doctor before taking this medication! Points of interest include a history of lung, liver, and heart disease. A history of blood conditions, such as anemia and porphyria, is particularly important to cover! Reviewing these conditions is vital, as dapsone is considered unsafe for these patients. Individuals with anemia need to treat their condition before they can take this medication! Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding must discuss this medication first also. Most doctors do not recommend it during these times! Other conditions that this medication treats often come with additional side effects. Hansen's disease is an example, and the side effects are numbness, pain, skin sores, and muscle weakness. Patients need additional treatment for these effects!

Patients cannot drink alcohol or use marijuana while they are on this medication. They have to avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen daily because dapsone increases their sensitivity to the sun! In addition, they need to stop using tanning beds. When they must be in the sun, they need to wear protective clothing. This includes long sleeves and hats! Dermatitis herpetiformis patients on this medication have to maintain a gluten-free diet. Although patients need to drink a glass of water with this medication, they can choose to take it before or after eating.

Reveal the medication interactions next.

Medication Interactions

Dapsone has several medication interactions. Thus, patients need to list all of the prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements that they take. They must then give this list to their doctor! Of course, the purpose is to help them avoid medication interactions. It is also helpful for patients to provide their pharmacist with this list.

This antibiotic interacts with primaquine and nitrofurantoin. It also interacts with folic acid antagonists, such as pyrimethamine! Some reports show that taking it with saquinavir alters its effectiveness. Other evidence indicates that the oral form of this antibiotic lessens the effectiveness of the oral typhoid vaccine! Thus, patients also need to talk to their doctor when they are going to receive any vaccine.