Drug interactions
Dapsone + Zidovudine
Severity: Moderate
Dapsone and Zidovudine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs can cause bone marrow suppression and anemia, and dapsone adds hemolytic risk. Together they may produce additive hematologic toxicity, especially in patients with HIV who often have baseline cytopenias.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dapsone and Zidovudine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Dapsone belongs to Anti Bacterial; Zidovudine belongs to Anti Virals.
Why it happens
Additive myelosuppression from zidovudine and hemolysis/marrow effects from dapsone.
What to do
Monitor complete blood count frequently, including hemoglobin and neutrophils. Consider an alternative antiretroviral or dapsone alternative if significant anemia or neutropenia develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Dapsone
- Bcg vaccine live + Dapsone Major
- Dapsone + Primaquine Major
- Apalutamide + Dapsone Moderate
- Belzutifan + Dapsone Moderate
- Bosentan + Dapsone Moderate
- Bupivacaine implant + Dapsone Moderate
Other interactions of Zidovudine
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Zidovudine Contraindicated
- Stavudine + Zidovudine Contraindicated
- Atidarsagene autotemcel + Zidovudine Major
- Betibeglogene autotemcel + Zidovudine Major
- Carboplatin + Zidovudine Major
- Cisplatin + Zidovudine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dapsone with Zidovudine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dapsone and Zidovudine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs can cause bone marrow suppression and anemia, and dapsone adds hemolytic risk. Together they may produce additive hematologic toxicity, especially in patients with HIV who often have baseline cytopenias.
How serious is the interaction between Dapsone and Zidovudine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor complete blood count frequently, including hemoglobin and neutrophils. Consider an alternative antiretroviral or dapsone alternative if significant anemia or neutropenia develops.
What other medicines interact with Dapsone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Dapsone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Primaquine, Apalutamide. The full list is on the Dapsone page.
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