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chloroquine vs dapsone topical

Side-by-side comparison of chloroquine and dapsone topical. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

7.4 Concomitant Use with Drugs that Induce Methemoglobinemia Concomitant use of ACZONE Gel, 7.5% with drugs that induce methemoglobinemia such as sulfonamides, acetaminophen, acetanilide, aniline dyes, benzocaine, chloroquine, dapsone, naphthalene, nitrates and nitrites, nitrofurantoin, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, pamaquine, para‐aminosalicylic acid, phenacetin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primaquine, and quinine may increase the risk for developing methemoglobinemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] .

Recommendation: Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and watch for any unusual tiredness or trouble breathing.

Drug Class
chloroquine Antimalarial
dapsone topical Topical Anti-Inflammatory
Type
chloroquine Prescription
dapsone topical Prescription
Summary
chloroquine

Chloroquine phosphate is a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. It can also treat a type of infection called extraintestinal amebiasis.

dapsone topical

Aczone Gel is a topical medicine used to treat acne. It helps reduce inflammation and kill bacteria that cause acne.

What It Treats
chloroquine

This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain types of parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are sensitive to chloroquine. Chloroquine can also treat extraintestinal amebiasis, which is an infection outside of the intestines. This medicine will not prevent malaria from returning in some patients.

dapsone topical

Aczone Gel is used to treat acne in people ages 9 and older. It helps to clear up pimples and prevent new ones from forming. Use it as directed by your doctor.

How It Works
chloroquine

Chloroquine phosphate works by killing the parasites that cause malaria and amebiasis. It stops the parasites from growing and multiplying in your body. For malaria caused by certain parasites, you may need to take another medicine with chloroquine.

dapsone topical

Aczone Gel contains dapsone, which is a type of anti-inflammatory medicine. It works by reducing swelling and redness. It also kills certain bacteria that can cause acne.

Common Side Effects
chloroquine

No common side effects listed.

dapsone topical
  • Dryness where you put the gel
  • Itching where you put the gel
FAERS Reports
chloroquine
  • Throwing up 49
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 48
  • Head pain 41
  • High blood pressure 41
  • Lung infection 40
dapsone topical

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
chloroquine

You should not take this medicine if you have changes in your retina or vision. You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to similar drugs.

dapsone topical

Aczone Gel can cause a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia. If your skin turns bluish or grey, stop using Aczone Gel and get medical help right away. If you have a G6PD deficiency, talk to your doctor before using this medicine. It may cause blood problems.

Pregnancy
chloroquine

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. It is not known if chloroquine can harm your unborn baby. Chloroquine can pass into breast milk.

dapsone topical

It is not known if Aczone Gel can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Aczone Gel passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

How to Read This chloroquine vs dapsone topical Comparison

chloroquine is classified in the Antimalarial drug class, while dapsone topical sits within the Topical Anti-Inflammatory class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, chloroquine has 219 submissions while dapsone topical has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these drugs can interfere with the way your red blood cells deliver oxygen to your body. combining them increases the risk of a serious blood disorder.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between chloroquine and dapsone topical - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.