Background
- Antibiotic
- Indicated for leprosy and non-tuberculous mycobacteria
- Has never been studied in an RCT
- Mechanism of action is unknown, but postulated to be redox cycling and membrane destabilization and dysfunction
Dosing
- Multibacillary leprosy: 50 mg p.o. once daily (in combination with other medications)
- Erythema nodosum leprosum: 100 mg p.o. 3 times daily for 12 weeks, then twice daily for 12 weeks, then once daily for 12 to 24 weeks (+/- prednisolone)
- Non-tuberculous mycobacteria: 100 to 200 mg p.o. once daily (in combination with other medications)
- Tuberculosis: 100 mg p.o. once daily (in combination with other medications)
Safety
Adverse Effects
- Skin darkening: exposure-related, onset is gradual. Not permanent, will slowly resolve after stopping the drug.
- Dry skin and generalized pruritus
- QT prolongation and possibly torsades de pointes
- Crystal deposition in liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, usually presenting as worsening abdominal pain
