Clofazimine is an important drug for the treatment of leprosy and mycobacterial infections, and standardized administration directly affects efficacy and safety.

1.Take with meals to increase absorption

Clofazimine is highly lipophilic, and its bioavailability is significantly lower when taken on an empty stomach.

It is recommended to take the drug immediately after a main meal; food containing an appropriate amount of fat (such as milk, eggs, meat, vegetable oil) can promote intestinal absorption and improve and stabilize blood drug concentrations.

The total daily dose is usually given once; if divided doses are prescribed, they should also be scheduled after meals as much as possible.

Avoid taking it on an empty stomach with plain water only, and it is not recommended to take it with large amounts of high-fiber food, which may affect absorption.

2.Missed dose management

①If a missed dose is noticed and there is still a long time before the next dose (more than half the dosing interval), take the missed dose as soon as possible.

②If the next dose time is approaching, skip this dose and take the next dose as originally scheduled; never double the dose.

③An occasional missed dose generally does not affect overall efficacy, but frequent missed doses can cause fluctuations in blood drug concentrations and affect treatment outcomes.

④It is recommended to use pill boxes, mobile phone reminders, and other tools to aid memory; family members can assist with supervision.

3.Treatment course recommendations

①In multidrug therapy for leprosy, a supervised monthly dose of 300mg plus a daily self-administered dose of 50mg is often given according to body weight, with a treatment course generally of 12–24 months.

②For nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, the regimen should be individualized based on the pathogen species, drug susceptibility results, and clinical response, with treatment courses often lasting several months or even longer.

③During treatment, do not discontinue or reduce the dose on your own; regular follow-up visits should be made to assess efficacy and adverse reactions.

④Skin red-brown discoloration is a common reversible reaction that gradually fades after discontinuation; there is no need to interrupt treatment because of it, but patients should be informed in advance to reduce concerns.

⑤Long-term users need to monitor gastrointestinal symptoms and skin changes; severe abdominal pain, bloody stools, etc. should prompt timely medical attention.