Hansepran

Hansepran (clofazimine) is indicated in the treatment of lepromatous leprosy, including dapsone-resistant lepromatous leprosy and lepromatous leprosy complicated by erythema nodosum leprosum. Hansepran (clofazimine) has not been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of other leprosy-associated inflammatory reactions.

Combination drug therapy has been recommended for initial treatment of multibacillary leprosy to prevent the development of drug resistance.

Hansepran (clofazimine) should be taken with meals.

Hansepran (clofazimine) should be used preferably in combination with one or more other antileprosy agents to prevent the emergence of drug resistance.

For the treatment of proven dapsone-resistant leprosy, Hansepran (clofazimine) should be given at a dosage of 100 mg daily in combination with one or more other antileprosy drugs for 3 years, followed by monotherapy with 100 mg of Hansepran (clofazimine) daily. Clinical improvement usually can be detected between the first and third months of treatment and is usually clearly evident by the sixth month.

For dapsone-sensitive multibacillary leprosy, a combination therapy with two other antileprosy drugs is recommended. The triple-drug regimen should be given for at least 2 years and continued, if possible, until negative skin smears are obtained. At this time, monotherapy with an appropriate antileprosy drug can be instituted.

The treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum reactions depends on the severity of symptoms. In general, the basic antileprosy treatment should be continued, and if nerve injury or skin ulceration is threatened, corticosteroids should be given. Where prolonged corticosteroid therapy becomes necessary, Hansepran (clofazimine) administered at dosages of 100 to 200 mg daily for up to 3 months may be useful in eliminating or reducing corticosteroid requirements. Dosages above 200 mg daily are not recommended, and the dosage should be tapered to 100 mg daily as quickly as possible after the reactive episode is controlled. The patient must remain under medical surveillance.

For advice about combination drug regimens, contact the USPHS Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, LA (504-642-7771).

There are no known contraindications.

WARNINGS

Severe abdominal symptoms (see below) have necessitated exploratory laparotomies in some patients receiving Hansepran (clofazimine). Rare reports have included splenic infarction, bowel obstruction, and gastrointestinal bleeding. There have also been reports of death following severe abdominal symptoms. Autopsies have revealed crystalline deposits of clofazimine in various tissues including the intestinal mucosa, liver, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes.

Hansepran (clofazimine) should be used with caution in patients who have gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Dosages of Hansepran (clofazimine) of more than 100 mg daily should be given for as short a period as possible and only under close medical supervision. If a patient complains of colicky or burning pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, the dose should be reduced, and if necessary, the interval between doses should be increased, or the drug should be discontinued.

PRECAUTIONS

General

Physicians should be aware that skin discoloration due to Hansepran (clofazimine) may result in depression. Two suicides have been reported in patients receiving Hansepran (clofazimine).

For skin dryness and ichthyosis, oil can be applied to the skin.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term carcinogenicity studies in animals have not been conducted with Hansepran (clofazimine). Results of mutagenicity studies (Ames test) were negative. There was some evidence of impaired fertility in one study in rats treated at a dose 25 times the usual human dose; the number of offspring was reduced and there was a lower proportion of implantations.

Pregnancy Category C

Hansepran (clofazimine) was not teratogenic in laboratory animals at dose levels equivalent to 8 times (rabbit) and 25 times (rat) the usual human daily dose. However, there was evidence of fetotoxicity in the mouse at 12-25 times the human dose, i.e., retardation of fetal skull ossification, increased incidence of abortions and stillbirths, and impaired neonatal survival. The skin and fatty tissue of offspring became discolored approximately 3 days after birth, which was attributed to the presence of Hansepran (clofazimine) in the maternal milk.

It has been found that Hansepran (clofazimine) crosses the human placenta. The skin of infants born to women who had received the drug during pregnancy was found to be deeply pigmented at birth. No evidence of teratogenicity was found in these infants. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Hansepran (clofazimine) should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the risk to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers

Hansepran (clofazimine) is excreted in the milk of nursing mothers. Hansepran (clofazimine) should not be administered to a nursing woman unless clearly indicated.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. Several cases of pediatric patients treated with Hansepran (clofazimine) have been reported in the literature.

In general, Hansepran (clofazimine) is well tolerated when administered in dosages no greater than 100 mg daily. The most consistent adverse reactions are usually dose related and are usually reversible when Hansepran (clofazimine) is discontinued.

Adverse Reactions Occurring In More Than 1% of Patients

Skin: Pigmentation from pink to brownish-black in 75%-100% of the patients within a few weeks of treatment; ichthyosis and dryness (8%-28%); rash and pruritus (1%-5%).

Gastrointestinal: Abdominal and epigastric pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal intolerance (40%-50%).

Ocular: Conjunctival and corneal pigmentation due to clofazimine crystal deposits; dryness; burning; itching; irritation.

Other: Discoloration of urine, feces, sputum, sweat; elevated blood sugar; elevated ESR.

Adverse Reactions Occurring In Less Than 1% of Patients

Skin:Phototoxicity, erythroderma, acneiform eruptions, monilial cheilosis.

Gastrointestinal:Bowel obstruction (see WARNINGS), gastrointestinal bleeding (see WARNINGS), anorexia, constipation, weight loss, hepatitis, jaundice, eosinophilic enteritis, enlarged liver.

Ocular: Diminished vision.

Nervous: Dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, giddiness, neuralgia, taste disorder.

Psychiatric:Depression secondary to skin discoloration; two suicides have been reported.

Laboratory: Elevated levels of albumin, serum bilirubin, and AST (SGOT); eosinophilia; hypokalemia.

Other:Splenic infarction (see WARNINGS), thromboembolism, anemia, cystitis, bone pain, edema, fever, lymphadenopathy, vascular pain.

No specific data are available on the treatment of overdosage with Hansepran (clofazimine). However, in case of overdose, the stomach should be emptied by inducing vomiting or by gastric lavage, and supportive symptomatic treatment should be employed.

Hansepran (clofazimine) has a variable absorption rate in leprosy patients, ranging from 45%-62% after oral administration. The average serum concentrations in leprosy patients treated with 100 mg and 300 mg daily were 0.7 µg/mL and 1.0 µg/mL, respectively. After ingestion of a single dose of 300 mg, elimination of unchanged Hansepran (clofazimine) and its metabolites in a 24-hour urine collection was negligible. Hansepran (clofazimine) is retained in the human body for a long time. The half-life of Hansepran (clofazimine) following repeated oral doses is estimated to be at least 70 days. Part of the ingested drug recovered from the feces may represent excretion via the bile. A small amount is also eliminated in the sputum, sebum, and sweat.

Hansepran (clofazimine) is highly lipophilic and tends to be deposited predominantly in fatty tissue and in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. It is taken up by macrophages throughout the body. In autopsies performed on leprosy patients, clofazimine crystals were found predominantly in the mesenteric lymph nodes, adrenals, subcutaneous fat, liver, bile, gall bladder, spleen, small intestine, muscles, bones, and skin.