Clinical evidence,mechanism, importance and management
Clofazimine 100mg daily, given to 15 patients with leprosy taking rifampicin 600mg daily and dapsone 100mg daily, had no effect on pharmacokinetics of rifampicin (See reference number 1). A single-dose study similarly found that bioavailability of clofazimine remained unaltered when rifampicin was given, although a reduction in rate of absorption was seen (See reference number 2). No special precautions would seem to be necessary on concurrent use.
1. Venkatesan K,Mathur A, Girdhar BK, Bharadwaj VP. The effect of clofazimine on the pharmacokinetics of rifampicin and dapsone in leprosy. J Antimicrob Chemother (1986) 18, 715–
18.
2. Mehta J,Gandhi IS, Sane SB, Wamburkar MN. Effect of clofazimine and dapsone on rifampicin (Lositril) pharmacokinetics in multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy cases. Indian J Lepr (1985) 57, 297–310.