Prescription medication · Topical Anti-Inflammatory

dapsone topical

Also sold as Aczone. Aczone Gel is used to treat acne in people ages 9 and older.

Data updated 2026-05-15

10
InteractionsSeveral interactions
$0.83
Generic price (NADAC)

dapsone topical (Aczone) is a prescription Topical Anti-Inflammatory. Aczone Gel is used to treat acne in people ages 9 and older.

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

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Generic Price

$0.83/unit

Generic Available

Yes (20 manufacturers)

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

NADAC price trail: DAPSONE 100 MG TABLET

Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (3 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -14.1% vs prior release.

80¢85¢90¢95¢100¢ 2024-022024-082024-12 83.2¢
Effective NADAC / unit vs prior NDCs
February 21, 2024 $0.9424/EA - 1
August 21, 2024 $0.9691/EA +2.8% 1
December 18, 2024 $0.8320/EA -14.1% 8
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What it does

Aczone Gel is used to treat acne in people ages 9 and older.

Common side effects

Dryness where you put the gel, Itching where you put the gel

Key warnings

Aczone Gel can cause a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from dapsone topical's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

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.

Serious Warnings

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.

Known Drug Interactions

moderate acetaminophen

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 )] .

Mechanism: Both drugs can cause a rare blood condition where red blood cells cannot carry oxygen properly. Taking them together increases the risk of this problem occurring.

moderate nitrofurantoin

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 )] .

Mechanism: These medications both have the potential to change how your blood carries oxygen. Using them at the same time makes it more likely you will develop a blood problem called methemoglobinemia.

moderate chloroquine

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 )] .

Mechanism: 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.

moderate nitroglycerin

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 )] .

Mechanism: These drugs can both cause a buildup of a specific type of hemoglobin that does not carry oxygen effectively. Taking them together adds to this risk.

moderate phenytoin

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 )] .

Mechanism: Both medications can cause a blood issue where your body's tissues do not get enough oxygen. Using them together increases the chance of this side effect occurring.

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This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What is Aczone Gel used for?
Aczone Gel is used to treat acne.
How often should I apply Aczone Gel?
Apply Aczone Gel once a day.
How much Aczone Gel should I use?
Use a pea-sized amount for your entire face.
Can I use other acne products with Aczone Gel?
Using benzoyl peroxide with Aczone Gel may cause temporary skin discoloration.
What should I do if I get a skin reaction?
Stop using Aczone Gel and talk to your doctor.
Can Aczone Gel cause serious side effects?
Yes, in rare cases, it can cause methemoglobinemia. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience cyanosis.
Is Aczone Gel safe to use during pregnancy?
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Can I use Aczone Gel if I have G6PD deficiency?
Avoid use of Aczone Gel if you have G6PD deficiency.
What happens if I use too much Aczone Gel?
Using too much Aczone Gel is unlikely to cause harm, but stick to the recommended amount.
How long does it take to see results with Aczone Gel?
It may take 12 weeks to see improvement. Talk to your doctor if you do not see improvement after this time.
What are the common side effects of dapsone topical?
The registry lists Dryness where you put the gel, Itching where you put the gel among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for dapsone topical. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does dapsone topical interact with other medications?
The registry has 10 documented interaction rows for dapsone topical. Notable source-record pairings include acetaminophen, nitrofurantoin, chloroquine. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is dapsone topical?
dapsone topical belongs to the Topical Anti-Inflammatory drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Aczone Gel is used to treat acne in people ages 9 and older.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for dapsone topical?
The FDA label for dapsone topical contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Topical Anti-Inflammatory

Other drugs grouped near dapsone topical - same-class peers and common alternatives.

adapalene

Differin

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apremilast

Otezla

Apremilast (Otezla/Otezla XR) is a medicine that can help adults and children manage psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

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azelaic acid

Finacea, Azelex

Azelaic acid gel is a topical medicine that helps treat rosacea.

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benzoyl peroxide

Benzac, PanOxyl

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical medicine that fights germs on your skin.

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betamethasone

Diprosone, Luxiq

Betamethasone dipropionate cream is a strong steroid medicine used on the skin.

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What the FDA Data Shows for dapsone topical

The FDA label for dapsone topical (sold under brand names such as Aczone) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Topical Anti-Inflammatory class. Aczone Gel is used to treat acne in people ages 9 and older. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Dryness where you put the gel, Itching where you put the gel.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.83.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: October 23, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page