dapsone
Dapsone is a tablet that's used for treating a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis and leprosy in children and adults. It belongs to the drug class known as sulfones. This medication is typically taken by mouth once a day. Side effects can include low red blood cells, nausea, and stomach pain. Dapsone is no longer available as a brand name, and only comes as a generic.
What is Dapsone?
What is Dapsone used for?
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Leprosy
How Dapsone works
Dapsone is an antibiotic. The way it works to treat dermatitis herpetiformis is by blocking white blood cells from traveling to certain areas of your body and causing inflammation. For leprosy, dapsone stops the bacteria causing your infection from making substances essential for their growth.
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What are the side effects of Dapsone?
Common Side Effects
- Lower red blood cell counts
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach pain
Other Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble sleeping
- Fever
- Headache
- Skin sensitive to light
Serious Side Effects
- Blood problems (methemoglobinemia): seizures, loss of consciousness, fast heart beat, trouble breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, feeling tired, skin color turning blue
- Breakdown of red blood cells: back pain, dark brown urine, shortness of breath, fever, tiredness or weakness, yellow skin or whites of the eyes
- Low platelets: easy bruising or bleeding, blood in urine or stool
- Low white blood cells: fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, pain while urinating
- Liver damage: stomach pain, clay-colored stools, nausea, vomiting, yellow skin or whites of the eyes
- Severe skin reaction: blisters, peeling skin, red skin, itching, rash, fever
Source: DailyMed
More on Dapsone side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Aplastic anemia—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing, increased bleeding or bruising
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Low red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Dapsone
Pros
Only taken once a day
Works to relieve itching from dermatitis herpetiformis within days of starting
Option for children
Cons
Can cause serious blood-related side effects
Must be taken with other medications to treat leprosy
Not safe to take while breastfeeding
Pharmacist tips for Dapsone
If you're taking dapsone to treat leprosy, you must take it with other medications prescribed by your provider. It won't work by itself.
If you're taking dapsone for dermatitis herpetiformis, your provider will need to monitor you carefully and adjust your dose based on how well the medication is working for you and if you're having side effects. Be sure to attend all of your appointments.
You can take dapsone with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
Dapsone can lower your blood cell counts, so your provider will want to monitor you through regular blood tests. Make sure to get all of your labs done on time.
Frequently asked questions about Dapsone
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What are the risks and warnings for Dapsone?
Dapsone can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Blood problem (methemoglobinemia)
Risk factors: History of methemoglobinemia | History of low glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
Dapsone can cause a rare condition called methemoglobinemia, a serious blood problem where your red blood cells can't bring enough oxygen to your body. This condition is more likely if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in your red blood cells. Get medical help right away if you notice your lips, mouth, or nails turning blue or gray.
Low blood cell counts
Dapsone can affect other blood cell counts. There have been reports of agranulocytosis (low white blood cell count), aplastic anemia (body not able to produce blood cells), and other blood-related problems. Some of these condition can raise your risk for other problems, such infections or higher risk of bleeding. Because of this, your provider might recommend regular blood draws to check your blood cell counts.
If you already have blood problems like anemia, your provider will treat those conditions before you can start dapsone. Let your provider know right away if you experience symptoms of blood-related problems, such as sore throat, fever, pale skin, skin bruising.
Severe skin reactions
Dapsone can rarely cause severe skin reactions. If you notice hives, blisters, peeling skin, red skin, pain, or fever, get medical help right away.
Liver damage and jaundice
Risk factors: History of liver problems
Dapsone can cause liver damage and jaundice. This usually happens when you first start taking dapsone. Watch out for signs of liver damage, such as nausea, stomach pain, and yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes. Call your provider if you notice any of these symptoms.
Dapsone dosage forms
Typical dosing for Dapsone
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Adults: The typical starting dose is 50 mg by mouth once daily. Your provider might raise your dose depending on your response. The typical dose ranges from 50 mg to 300 mg once daily.
Children: Ask your child's provider.
Leprosy
Adults: The typical dose is 100 mg by mouth once daily.
Children: Ask your child's provider.
How much does Dapsone cost?
What is the latest news about Dapsone?
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References
Best studies we foundAntiga, E., et al. (2015). The diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Clinical overview of Hansen's disease (leprosy).
Debol, S. M., et al. (1997). Anti-inflammatory action of dapsone: inhibition of neutrophil adherence is associated with inhibition of chemoattractant-induced signal transduction. Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
Esbenshade, A. J., et al. (2011). Dapsone-Induced Methemoglobinemia: A Dose Related Occurrence?. Cancer.
Kurien, G., et al. (2024). Dapsone. StatPearls.
Ludlow, J. T., et al. (2023). Methemoglobinemia. StatPearls.
McCarty, M. (2010). How Clinically Relevant is Dapsone-related Peripheral Neuropathy?. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Mirza, H. A., et al. (2023). Dermatitis herpetiformis. StatPearls.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). Aplastic anemia.
Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. (2023). Dapsone tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Sedhai, R S., et al. (2023). Agranulocytosis. StatPearls.
Van Veen, N. H., et al. (2016). Corticosteroids for treating nerve damage in leprosy. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
World Health Organization. (2023). Leprosy.
Wozel, G., et al. (2014). Dapsone in dermatology and beyond. Archives of Dermatological Research.
Zhu, Y. I., et al. (2001). Dapsone and sulfones in dermatology: Overview and update. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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