Side-Effects and Other Uses of Dapsone

Although the benefits of dapsone vastly outweigh its side-effects, the drug does have some side-effects including:

• Headache
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Inflammation of the liver
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Reduced numbers of red blood cells
• Rash with a fever and a decrease in the number immune cells (Often referred to as Dapsone syndrome)

In addition to treating leprosy, Dapsone has a wide range of other secondary, more obscure uses. Dapsone has been known to treat Behcet's disease, Cicatricial pemphigoid, Erythema elevantum diutinum, Mycetoma, Pemphigus herpetiformis, Black Widow spider bites and many others. Dapsone can also when administered with Chlorproguanil prevent uncomplicated malaria and even act as an anti-acne gel under the brand name Aczone.