Evaluation of effectiveness of clofazimine therapy. I. Monitoring of absorption of clofazimine from gastrointestinal tract.

The quantity of clofazimine absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract when administered to lepromatous leprosy patients at varying single doses of 600 mg., 400 mg., 300 mg., and 100 mg. has been worked out by determining the amount of clofazimine present in total faecal excreta. Except in 100 mg. dose where the percentage absorption was 62.5 +/- 17 in all other case the values were around 45%. The efficacy of daily administration of 100 mg. clofazimine is discussed in this first article.