Dapsone
Consumer information about the medication DAPSONE
Dapsone (Oral Route)
Dapsone (Oral Route)
Dapsone is a diamino-dphenyl sulfone, which is an antibacterial agent that is commonly used with clofazimine and rifampicin. There are a number of treatments that use dapsone. . It is used as an antibacterial drug for susceptible cases of leprosy, as well as the primary treatment for Dermatitis herpetiformis and it is also used as a treatment for Pneumocystis pneumonia or PCP and can be combined with pyrimethamine to treat malaria. Dapsone is a white, odorless crystalline powder, insoluble in fixed and vegetable oils and in water. It is taken both topically and orally depending on the treatment.
Skin conditions are not only irritating, they are also embarrassing to have, especially when they are in areas everyone can see. Medication to treat such issues is a necessity for many people, which is why there is always something new on the market. Dapsone is an effective answer that works quickly to produce clear results. Having this relief when it is needed can stop the suffering and bothersome issues when they first appear and give you the chance to control it if it comes back.
DAPSONE EFFECT
Dapsone is an antibacterial agent, similar in effect to those found in the sulfonamide group, although different in structure. Essentially, Dapsone prevents the bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid, which essentially means it inhibits the ability of bacteria to grow which in turn leads to the destruction of the bacteria elements.
However, Dapsone can also treat non-bacterial skin conditions as well. While the reasons are not fully understood, the basic effect is that Dapsone has an anti-inflammatory agent that blocks the myeloperoxidase. This inhibition means that it is effective in a number of treatments for conditions of the skin to even, in theory, the inflammation of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and even stroke, though studies are continuing along these lines.
The effect that Dapsone has on leprosy was such as some strains developed a resistance. This has led to the introduction of multi-drug therapies that include this medicine and other agents which destroy the resistant leprosy cells.
Dapsone is not a steroid. Yet Dapsone doesn’t generally fit within the known non-steroid anti-inflammation agents (NSAID). Typically, NSAID will block cyclo-oxygenase, but Dapsone does not do this.
HISTORY
While the theories in developing Dapsone had been present since the early part of the 20th century with the work of German chemist Paul Ehrlich, the real breakthrough came in 1932 by Gerhard Domagk who discovered the antibacterial properties of prontosil red. This led to a number of new discoveries that culminated with the creation of Dapsone in 1935 by Ernest Fourneau.
Chemists Fromm and Wittman first synthesized Dapsone in 1908, although the true discovery of what they had accomplished was not know until decades later. The Dinitrodiphenyl sulf