Leprosy Training Module for Medical Officers

• Doses required :
- 100 mg 3 times a day for 1 month
- 100 mg 2 times a day for 1 month
- 100 mg daily for 1 month and then stop the drug
2. Thalidomide :
• It was marketed as a sedative – hypnotic in 1957.
• Withdrawn from the market several years later because of teratogenecity.
• Also effective for the treatment of severe ENL and chronic recurrent ENL
reactions as an anti – inflammatory drug.
• Useful in weaning patients off corticosteroids.
• Because of teratogenic effects, thalidomide should never be given to women
of child bearing age.
• Doses required :
- 400 mg a day in 4 divided doses for 1 – 2 weeks
- 300 mg a day in 3 divided doses for 1 week
- 200 mg a day in 2 divided doses for 1 week
- 100 mg a day for 1 week and then stop the drug
• Combined treatment with Clofazimine and Thalidomide ( both 300 mg daily )
controls the reactional state of corticosteroid – dependent lepromatous
patients more rapidly than monotherapy with thalidomide alone.
Management of Other Complications :
• Iridocyclitis – Mild cases of iridocyclitis may be treated with topical
application of Atropine and Steroid eye drops or ointments .
More severe cases should be referred to the nearest hospital.
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