Clofazimine
Clofazimine is an antibiotic used in leprosy and its painful skin reactions, sold here as Lamprene 50mg capsules for a once-daily course.
What clofazimine treats
Clofazimine is an antibiotic used against mycobacteria, the family of bacteria that includes the organism behind leprosy (Hansen's disease). It is one of the three medicines in the standard multi-drug course for multibacillary leprosy, the form of the illness in which bacteria are widespread. It also has a second job: easing erythema nodosum leprosum, the tender lumps, fever and joint pain that can flare during leprosy treatment.
How clofazimine works
Clofazimine is a red dye that attaches to the DNA of mycobacteria and stops them copying themselves. It also collects inside macrophages, the immune cells that swallow bacteria, and quiets the inflammation they set off, which is why it helps during the reaction phase as well as against the infection. It builds up in tissue gradually, so any benefit takes weeks to appear rather than days.
Taking Lamprene 50mg capsules
One capsule a day, with food: a meal helps absorption and makes stomach upset less likely. In a standard leprosy course a larger dose of clofazimine is also taken once a month. For erythema nodosum leprosum the daily amount is higher for a period and then stepped down. Courses run for many months, so a steady daily routine does more than an occasional perfect week.
Skin colour, stomach effects and other side effects
A reddish-brown or darker tone in the skin is expected rather than an allergy — the dye settles in skin and fat, and can also colour sweat, tears, urine and the whites of the eyes. It deepens over the first weeks and fades after the last capsule, sometimes over many months. Dry or itchy skin, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain and a metallic taste are common. Rarely, clofazimine builds up in the bowel wall and causes a blockage; severe stomach pain with vomiting or bloating needs urgent treatment. The drug can also lengthen the heart's QT interval, an electrical signal on an ECG, and combining it with another medicine that does the same raises the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.
Buying clofazimine on PockDose
There is one clofazimine product here: Lamprene, 50mg capsules, the strength the daily dose is built around. Other medicines for bacterial infections are under antibiotics. Pack sizes and the current price in HKD are on the product page.
Sources
- Leprosy - Healthdirect — Healthdirect Australia
- Clofazimine | Drugs | BNF | NICE — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (BNF)
Is Clofazimine available to order in Hong Kong?
Clofazimine can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is generic Lamprene 50mg capsules, which is the single version on the page. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page, or in Bitcoin or Ethereum.
How much does Clofazimine cost?
Lamprene is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Clofazimine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order clofazimine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for clofazimine?
Lamprene is a brand name of clofazimine. Here, clofazimine can be bought online as generic Lamprene. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does a course of clofazimine last?
For multibacillary leprosy, clofazimine is taken as part of a combination course that runs for about a year, and longer if the disease is still active. When it is used for erythema nodosum leprosum, the higher daily dose usually continues for a few months before it is reduced.
Why does clofazimine darken the skin?
It is a red dye that collects in skin and fatty tissue, so most people develop a reddish-brown or darker tone, often most obvious on the face and arms. Sweat, tears and urine can take on colour too. The change fades slowly once the capsules stop, sometimes over many months.
Should clofazimine be taken with food?
Yes. A meal improves how much of the capsule the body absorbs and makes stomach upset less likely. Choose a meal you eat at roughly the same time each day, such as breakfast or dinner, so the once-daily rhythm is easy to keep.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Lamprene?
Take the missed capsule later the same day if you remember, then continue as before. If the next dose is almost due, leave the missed one out rather than taking two together. Consistency over the whole course is what counts.
Is clofazimine used for anything other than leprosy?
Its licensed use is leprosy and the painful reaction erythema nodosum leprosum. It is also included in some long-term regimens for other mycobacterial infections that are difficult to clear, always alongside other medicines rather than on its own.