Leprosy
Mailing List, January 18th, 2009
Ref.: Ofloxacin
in leprosy
From: Saunderson
P.,
Greenville
,
SC
,
USA
Dear
Salvatore,
In
response to Dr Kamaladasa’s question (LML Jan. 11th,
2009) about ofloxacin, the recommended dose for the treatment of
leprosy is clearly stated by the WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy
(Seventh Report, 1998; page 13) as 400mg daily. Monthly
rifampicin, plus daily ofloxacin (400mg) for 6 months will be more
than adequate for PB cases.
The
fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, are not recommended for
children and adolescents, because of possible effects on growing
joints (arthropathy is seen in studies using immature animals).
The WHO report also states: “Side effects include nausea, diarrhoea
and other gastrointestinal complaints, and a variety of central
nervous system complaints including insomnia, headaches, dizziness,
nervousness and hallucinations. Serious problems are rare and do
not usually require discontinuing the drug.”
With
best wishes,
Dr
Paul Saunderson, MD, MRCP
Medical
Director: American Leprosy Missions
Head
Office:
1 ALM Way,
Greenville
,
SC
29601
,
USA
Home
address: Østrem, 6013
Ålesund
,
Norway
Email:
psaunderson at leprosy.org
