DAPSONE Tablet Ref.[8269] Active ingredients: Dapsone

Posology

Adults and children over 12 years

Multibacillary leprosy (3-drug regimen): 100mg daily for at least two years.

Paucibacillary leprosy (2-drug regimen): 100mg daily for at least six months.

Malaria prophylaxis: 100mg weekly with 12.5mg pyrimethamine.

Dermatitis herpetiformis: Initially 50mg daily, gradually increased to 300mg daily if required. Once lesions have begun to subside, the dose should be reduced to a minimum as soon as possible, usually 25-50mg daily, which may be continued for a number of years. Maintenance dosage can often be reduced in patients receiving a gluten-free diet.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: In combination with trimethoprim, 50-100mg daily; 100mg twice weekly or 200mg once weekly.

Children 6-12 years

Multibacillary leprosy (3-drug regimen): 50mg daily for at least two years.

Paucibacillary leprosy (2-drug regimen): 50mg daily for at least six months.

Elderly

Dosage should be reduced in the elderly where there is an impairment of hepatic function.

Method of Administration

For oral administration.

Symptoms are hypoxia, methaemoglobinaemia and haemolytic anaemia. In severe overdosage the stomach should be emptied by gastric lavage. Administration of activated charcoal by mouth has been shown to enhance the elimination of dapsone and its monoacetyl metabolite. Methaemoglobinaemia has been treated with slow IV injections of methylene blue 1-2mg/kg bodyweight, repeated after one hour if necessary. Methylene blue should not be administered to patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency since it will not be effective. Haemolysis has been treated by infusion of concentrated human red blood cells to replace the damaged cells.

Supportive therapy includes oxygen to alleviate hypoxia, and administration of fluids to maintain renal flow and promote the elimination of dapsone.

PVC Blister Packs: Three years.

All other packs: Eighteen months.

Store below 25°C in a dry place.

The product containers are rigid injection moulded polypropylene or injection blow-moulded polyethylene containers with polyfoam wad or polyethylene ullage filler and snap-on polyethylene lids; in case any supply difficulties should arise the alternative is amber glass containers with screw caps and polyfoam wad or cotton wool.

The product may also be supplied in blister packs in cartons:

a) Carton: Printed carton manufactured from white folding box board.

b) Blister pack: (i) 250µm white rigid PVC. (ii) Surface printed 20µm hard temper aluminium foil with 5-7g/M2 PVC and PVdC compatible heat seal lacquer on the reverse side.

Pack sizes: 7s, 10s, 14s, 21s, 28s, 30s, 56s, 60s, 84s, 100s, 112s, 250s, 500s, 1000s, 5000s.

Product may also be supplied in bulk packs, for reassembly purposes only, in polybags contained in tins, skillets or polybuckets filled with suitable cushioning material. Bulk packs are included for temporary storage of the finished product before final packaging into the proposed marketing containers.

Maximum size of bulk packs: 200,000.

Not applicable.