Anti Leprosy: Dapsone, Clofazimine, Rifampin, Pneumocystis Carinii mnemonic

Anti Leprosy

A drug regimen of 3 drugs, dapsone, clofazimine, and rifampin, is recommended for 6 to 24 months
Dapsone [dab of sun]
- Inhibits folate synthesis [broken foliage]
- Causes hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate deficiency [mouth of sun is a broken red blood cell]
- Also effective against Pneumocystis carinii [lungs with red cysts]
Clofazimine [Clover-face mine]
- Binds to DNA, inhibiting its template function [mine bound to DNA double helix]
- Also produces bactericidal free radicals
- Does not enter CNS, accumulates in peripheral tissues
- May cause red-brown discoloration of skin [red "blush" on the mine]