Clofazimine is recommended for treatment of leprosy, including forms resistant to Dapsone and complicated forms of erythema nodosum leprosum. On an experimental basis it is also used in the treatment of infections with Mycobacterium avium in patients with AIDS.
What is Clofazimine?
Clofazimine exerts a slow bactericidal effect on Mycobacterium leprae (the microbe responsible for leprosy) by binding to its DNA. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can control the rash that may be associated with leprosy.
How should Clofazimine be taken?
Typically, Clofazimine is administered along with other medicines. The dosage varies from patient to patient. For adults and adolescents it is usually between 50 and 100 mg per day, taken as a single dose.
Side effects associated with Clofazimine
Among the other possible adverse effects are included:
- Diarrhea
- Dry, rough or scaly skin
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Discoloration of the skin and eyes
- Skin rash and itching
- Taste changes
- Dryness, burning, itching or irritation
- Increased skin sensitivity to light
- Discoloration of feces and urine
You should immediately contact a doctor if taking Clofazimine triggers any of the following symptoms:
- Dark stools
- Blood in the stool
- Abdominal pain
- Depression
- Jaundice
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Clofazimine
Clofazimine may interfere with the ability to drive or operate hazardous machinery. It can also increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and because of it, it is recommended to protect yourself from the action of the UV rays. If the symptoms of leprosy do not improve within one to three months of starting the treatment with Clofazimine, it is recommended to contact your doctor. It may be necessary to wait six months, before there are optimal benefits from this therapy.
Moreover, before starting the treatment it is important to tell your doctor if:
- You have any allergies to the active substance, its excipients or other drugs
- You are taking other medications, herbal remedies and supplements, remembering to mention bedaquiline
- You suffer (or have suffered) from liver disease or gastrointestinal problems
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
