Safety and tolerability of dapsone for the treatment of patients with drug-resistant, partial-onset seizures: an open-label trial

Neurol Sci. 2011 Dec;32(6):1063-7. doi: 10.1007/s10072-011-0612-6. Epub 2011 May 17.

Abstract

Dapsone has shown anti-convulsive properties in animal models of epilepsy. In the present study, we tested the safety and tolerability of dapsone as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with drug-resistant partial-onset seizures. Twenty-two adult patients with drug-resistant partial-onset seizures were included. After a 3-month baseline period, patients received dapsone 100 mg per day, for a 3-month evaluation period. Plasma concentrations of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) did not significantly change during the study. No alteration of mean clinical laboratory values was observed. The reported adverse events were: mild methemoglobinemia (50%), headache (31.8%), paleness (27.3%) and somnolence (4.5%).Sixteen of 22 patients reduced their seizure frequency in more than 50% as a result of dapsone treatment. Three subjects remained seizure-free during the entire dapsone treatment period. This open-label study of adjunctive dapsone therapy at 100 mg/day suggests that dapsone is safe, and well-tolerated in adults with drug-resistant partial-onset seizures.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / blood
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Dapsone / blood
  • Dapsone / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Electrocardiography
  • Epilepsies, Partial / chemically induced
  • Epilepsies, Partial / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leprostatic Agents / blood
  • Leprostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Leprostatic Agents
  • Dapsone