Leprosy Mailing List – September 8th,
2007
Ref.: Leprosy patients who cannot take dapsone and/or
rifampicin
From: Noto S., Genoa, Italy
Dear Juan,
Thank you very much for your
message (LML September 7th, 2007). The WHO booklet: “WHO
Model Prescribing Information – Drug used in Leprosy”, WHO
Geneva 1998 (WHO/DPM/DSI/98.1), has a section at page 14 for “Patient
who cannot take dapsone”.
Adult (50-70 kg) patients with
paucibacillary leprosy who cannot take dapsone should stop it
immediately and can have clofazimine 50 mg daily and clofazimine 300
mg once a month. The monthly dose is under supervision. The dose of rifampicin and the
duration of treatment are not changed.
For multibacillary (MB) leprosy the indication is to stop
dapsone and use the MDT MB regimen with only rifampicin and
clofazimine.
In the booklet there is also a
section on “Patient who cannot take rifampicin”. I this case the alternative
drugs mentioned are: ofloxacin, minocycline and clarithromycin.
Best regards,
Salvatore
