Clofazimine

Administration

• Type: Antibiotic
• Dosage Forms: CAP 50mg
• Routes of Administration: Oral
• Common Trade Names: Lamprene

Adult Dosing

Hansen's disease, multibacillary

• 50mg PO qd x 12mo in combination with rifampin and dapsone
  • Give 300mg PO qmo x 12mo in addition to daily dose

Erythema nodosum leprosum

• 100mg PO bid x12wk, then 100mg PO qd 12-24wk
  • Start 100mg PO tid x12wek

Pediatric Dosing

Hansen's disease, multibacillary

• 10-14 yo: 50mg PO qod AND 150mg PO qmo x12mo in combination with rifampin and dapsone
• >15 yo: 50mg PO qd AND 300mg PO qmo x 12mo in combination with rifampin and dapsone

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C
• Lactation risk: Caution advised
• Renal dosing: not defined
• Hepatic dosing: not defined

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• Caution:
  • Electrolyte abnormality
  • Congenital long QT syndrome, QT prolongation or family history of long QT
  • Torsades de pointes, ventricular arrhythmias
  • Bradycardia
  • Recent MI
  • CHF

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• Severe abdominal symptoms
• Hepatitis, Jaundice
• Intestinal obstruction
• GI Bleeding
• Splenic infarction
• Thromboembolism
• QT Prolongation, Torsades de pointes

Common

• Skin discoloration
• Nausea/Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal/epigastric pain
• Ichthyosis/xeroderma
• Pruritus/rash
• Discolored urine/feces/sputum/sweat
• Ocular pigmentation, ocular irritation
• Hyperglycemia
• ESR elevated

Pharmacology

• Half-life: 70 days
• Metabolism: Unknown
• Excretion: Feces primarily

Mechanism of Action

• Bacteriostatic or bactericidal: Binds to mycobacterial DNA, inhibiting growth

See Also

• Hansen's disease

Authors:

Claire, Jonathan Warren