Dapsone Dosage
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 9, 2023.
Applies to the following strengths: 100 mg; 25 mg
Usual Adult Dose for:
- Leprosy - Lepromatous
- Leprosy - Tuberculoid
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis
- Pneumocystis Pneumonia
- Pneumocystis Pneumonia Prophylaxis
- Toxoplasmosis - Prophylaxis
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
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.
Dose Adjustments
Patients with high acetylation rates, or who are receiving treatment affecting acetylation may require an adjustment in dosage.
Precautions
When feasible, baseline and subsequent monitoring of liver function is recommended. If abnormal, dapsone should be discontinued until the source of the abnormality is established.
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