Sulfone

Dapsone

Approved 6 Jun 2023TopicalGel

The FDA lists this product in 33 strengths and forms.

Indications

Dapsone Gel, 5%, is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. Dapsone Gel, 5% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Contraindications

None. None.

Warnings and precautions

Methemoglobinemia: Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported. Discontinue Dapsone Gel, 5% if signs of methemoglobinemia occur ( 5.1 ). Hematologic Effects: Some subjects with G6PD deficiency using Dapsone Gel, 5% developed laboratory changes suggestive of hemolysis. ( 5.2 )( 8.6 ).

5.1Methemoglobinemia Cases

of methemoglobinemia, with resultant hospitalization, have been reported postmarketing in association with Dapsone Gel, 5% treatment. Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia are more susceptible to drug-induced methemoglobinemia. Avoid use of Dapsone Gel, 5% in those patients with congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia. Signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia may be delayed some hours after exposure.

Initial signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia are characterized by a slate grey cyanosis seen in, e.g., buccal mucous membranes, lips and nail beds. Advise patients to discontinue Dapsone Gel, 5% and seek immediate medical attention in the event of cyanosis. Dapsone can cause elevated methemoglobin levels particularly in conjunction with methemoglobin-inducing agents.

5.2Hematologic Effects

Oral dapsone treatment has produced dose-related hemolysis and hemolytic anemia. Individuals with glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are more prone to hemolysis with the use of certain drugs. G6PD deficiency is most prevalent in populations of African, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean ancestry. Some subjects with G6PD deficiency using Dapsone Gel, 5% developed laboratory changes suggestive of hemolysis.

There was no evidence of clinically relevant hemolysis or anemia in patients treated with Dapsone Gel, 5%, including patients who were G6PD deficient. Discontinue Dapsone Gel, 5%, if signs and symptoms suggestive of hemolytic anemia occur. Avoid use of Dapsone Gel, 5% in patients who are taking oral dapsone or antimalarial medications because of the potential for hemolytic reactions. Combination of Dapsone Gel, 5%, with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) may increase the likelihood of hemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency.

At a glance

Brand name: Dapsone
Pharmacologic class: Sulfone
Route: Topical
Dosage form: Gel
Applicant: TP Anda Holdings
Status: Prescription
FDA approval: 6 Jun 2023
Application: ANDA213907-001

Warnings and precautions

5.1Methemoglobinemia Cases

5.2Hematologic Effects

Interactions

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/ SMX) increases the level of dapsone and its metabolites ( 7.1 ) Topical benzoyl peroxide used at the same time as dapsone may result in temporary local yellow or orange skin discoloration. ( 7.2 ).

7.1 Trimethoprim – Sulfamethoxazole A drug-drug interaction study evaluated the effect of the use of Dapsone Gel, 5%, in combination with double strength (160 mg/800 mg) trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). During co-administration, systemic levels of TMP and SMX were essentially unchanged. However, levels of dapsone and its metabolites increased in the presence of TMP/SMX. Systemic exposure (AUC 0-12 ) of dapsone and N-acetyl-dapsone (NAD) were increased by about 40% and 20% respectively in the presence of TMP/SMX.

Notably, systemic exposure (AUC 0-12 ) of dapsone hydroxylamine (DHA) was more than doubled in the presence of TMP/SMX. Exposure from the proposed topical dose is about 1 % of that from the 100 mg oral dose, even when co-administered with TMP/SMX.

7.2Topical Benzoyl Peroxide

Topical application of Dapsone Gel, 5%, followed by benzoyl peroxide in subjects with acne vulgaris resulted in a temporary local yellow or orange discoloration of the skin and facial hair (reported by 7 out of 95 subjects in a clinical study) with resolution in 4 to 57 days.

7.3Drug Interactions with Oral Dapsone

Certain concomitant medications (such as rifampin, anticonvulsants, St. John’s wort) may increase the formation of dapsone hydroxylamine, a metabolite of dapsone associated with hemolysis. With oral dapsone treatment, folic acid antagonists such as pyrimethamine have been noted to possibly increase the likelihood of hematologic reactions.

7.4 Concomitant Use with Drugs that Induce Methemoglobinemia Concomitant use of Dapsone Gel, 5% with drugs that induce methemoglobinemia such as sulfonamides, acetaminophen, acetanilide, aniline dyes, benzocaine, chloroquine, dapsone, naphthalene, nitrates and nitrites, nitrofurantoin, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, pamaquine, para-aminosalicylic acid, phenacetin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primaquine, and quinine may increase the risk for developing methemoglobinemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

There are no available data on Dapsone Gel, 5%, use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for adverse developmental outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, oral doses of dapsone administered to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis that resulted in systemic exposures more than 250 times the systemic exposure at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of Dapsone Gel, 5%, resulted in embryocidal effects.

When orally administered to rats from the onset of organogenesis through the end of lactation at systemic exposures approximately 400 times the exposure at the MRHD, dapsone resulted in increased stillbirths and decreased pup weight [see Data ]. The estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population are unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Data Animal Data Dapsone has been shown to have an embryocidal effect in rats and rabbits when administered orally daily to females during organogenesis at dosages of 75 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/kg/day, respectively. These dosages resulted in systemic exposures that represented approximately 956 times [rats] and 289 times [rabbits] the systemic exposure observed in human females as a result of use of the MRHD of Dapsone Gel, 5%, based on AUC comparisons.

These effects were probably secondary to maternal toxicity. Dapsone was assessed for effects on perinatal/postnatal pup development and postnatal maternal behavior and function in a study in which dapsone was orally administered to female rats daily beginning on the seventh day of gestation and continuing until the twenty-seventh day postpartum. Maternal toxicity (decreased body weight and food consumption) and developmental effects (increase in stillborn pups and decreased pup weight) were seen at a dapsone dose of 30 mg/kg/day (approximately 382 times the systemic exposure that is associated with the MRHD of Dapsone Gel, 5%, based on AUC comparisons).

No effects were observed on the viability, physical development, behavior, learning ability, or reproductive function of surviving pups.

Adverse reactions

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 10%) are oiliness/ peeling, dryness and erythema at the application site. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact TruPharma LLC at 1-877-541-5504 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Studies Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Serious adverse reactions reported in subjects treated with Dapsone Gel, 5%, during clinical trials included but were not limited to the following: Nervous system/ Psychiatric – Suicide attempt, tonic clonic movements.

Gastrointestinal – Abdominal pain, severe vomiting, pancreatitis. Other – Severe pharyngitis. In the clinical trials, a total of 12 out of 4032 subjects were reported to have depression (3 of 1660 treated with vehicle and 9 of 2372 treated with Dapsone Gel, 5%). Psychosis was reported in 2 of 2372 subjects treated with Dapsone Gel, 5%, and in 0 of 1660 subjects treated with vehicle. Combined contact sensitization/irritation studies with Dapsone Gel, 5%, in 253 healthy subjects resulted in at least 3 subjects with moderate erythema.

Dapsone Gel, 5%, did not induce phototoxicity or photoallergy in human dermal safety studies. Dapsone Gel, 5%, was evaluated for 12 weeks in four controlled trials for local cutaneous events in 1819 subjects. The most common events reported from these studies include oiliness/peeling, dryness, and erythema. These data are shown by severity in Table 1 below. Table 1- Application Site Adverse Reactions by Maximum Severity Dapsone Gel, 5% (N= 1819) Vehicle (N= 1660) Application Site Event Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe Erythema 9% 5% <1% 9% 6% <1% Dryness 14% 3% <1% 14% 4% <1% Oiliness/ Peeling 13% 6% <1% 15% 6% <1% The adverse reactions occurring in at least 1% of subjects in either arm in the four vehicle-controlled trials are presented in Table 2.

Table 2- Adverse Reactions Occurring in at Least 1% of Subjects Dapsone Gel, 5% (N= 1819) Vehicle (N= 1660) Application Site Reaction NOS 18% 20% Application Site Dryness 16% 17% Application Site Erythema 13% 14% Application Site Burning 1% 2% Application Site Pruritus 1% 1% Pyrexia 1% 1% Nasopharyngitis 5% 6% Upper Respiratory Tract Inf. NOS 3% 3% Sinusitis NOS 2% 1% Influenza 1% 1% Pharyngitis 2% 2% Cough 2% 2% Joint Sprain 1% 1% Headache NOS 4% 4% NOS = Not otherwise specified One subjects treated with Dapsone Gel, 5% in the clinical trials had facial swelling which led to discontinuation of medication.

In addition, 486 subjects were evaluated in a 12-month safety trial. The adverse event profile in this trial was consistent with that observed in the vehicle-controlled trials.

6.2Experience with Oral Use of Dapsone Although

not observed in the clinical trials with Dapsone Gel, 5% (topical dapsone) serious adverse reactions have been reported with oral use of dapsone, including agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, peripheral neuropathy (motor loss and muscle weakness), and skin reactions (toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, morbilliform and scarlatiniform reactions, bullous and exfoliative dermatitis, erythema nodosum, and urticaria).

6.3Postmarketing Experience

Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of topical dapsone: methemoglobinemia, rash (including erythematous rash, application site rash) and swelling of face (including lip swelling, eye swelling)

Dapsone

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1Methemoglobinemia Cases

5.2Hematologic Effects

At a glance

Two medicines in one question?

Dapsone

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1Methemoglobinemia Cases

5.2Hematologic Effects

At a glance

Two medicines in one question?

5.3Peripheral Neuropathy

5.4Skin

Interactions

7.2Topical Benzoyl Peroxide

7.3Drug Interactions with Oral Dapsone

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Studies Experience

6.2Experience with Oral Use of Dapsone Although

6.3Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information