Clofazimine

Type of Medication: Antibiotic

Indications: Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus infections

Side Effects:  Gastrointestinal disturbance (up to 50% of patients),  hyperlipidaemia, tendinitis, arrhythmias,  pink to brownish-black skin discolouration within 1–4 weeks in 75%–100% of patients and usually disappears within 6–12 months after stopping treatment,  ichthyosis and dry skin (8%–38%), pruritus (5%), rash (1%–5%), photosensitivity reactions, bowel obstruction, GI haemorrhage, conjunctival pigmentation (38%–57%), subjective dimness of vision (12.3%), dry eyes, ocular irritation (24.6%), reactive depression , splenic infarction and discolouration of body fluids.

Route of administration: Adult (Oral) Dose:

Dose:100 mg od

Administration: Take with meals or with milk

Monitoring:  QT prolongation reported – baseline ECG. Monitoring FBC, U&Es, LFTs.

BTS guidelines

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and European Cystic Fibrosis Society consensus recommendations

Examples of some Drug Interactions

Interacting drug: may reduce the absorption of rifampicin

Interacting drug: isoniazid may increase plasma and urinary concentrations of clofazimine and decrease skin concentrations

Interacting drug: Increased risk of prolonged QT with other drugs that prolong QT eg fluoroquinolones