Primary hyper-/hypokalemic periodic paralysis and related variants
Adults
50 mg QD or BID
individualized
200 mg/day
Titration Adjust at weekly intervals (or sooner if adverse reaction).
Renal Undefined
Hepatic Contraindicated in hepatic insufficiency.
Instructions
Evaluate response after 2 months of treatment to decide whether to continue
Monitor serum potassium and bicarbonate at baseline and periodically
Available strengths
tab 50 mg
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to dichlorphenamide or other sulfonamides
Concomitant use with high-dose aspirin
Severe pulmonary disease limiting compensation to metabolic acidosis
Hepatic insufficiency
Cautions
Hypersensitivity / immune-mediated reactions; discontinue at first sign of rash
Hypokalemia; monitor and correct
Metabolic acidosis; monitor serum bicarbonate
Falls; consider dose reduction/discontinuation
Adverse reactions
Paresthesias
Cognitive disorder
Dysgeusia
Confusional state
Pregnancy No adequate human data; teratogenic in rats; may cause fetal harm.
Lactation No data on presence in human milk or effects on the breastfed infant.
Cost
Dichlorphenamide (KEVEYIS)
Strength
#/mo
generic $/mo
CostPlus
50 mg
tab
30 qd
not offered
NADAC is a voluntary CMS survey of what retail community pharmacies pay for the drugs they stock. Dichlorphenamide is dispensed outside retail pharmacies, so it rarely appears on surveyed invoices.
Defining liabilityGenerally tolerated at therapeutic doses; clinically important risks are agent-specific and increase with interactions or organ impairment.