didanosine

What is the most important information I should know about didanosine?

What is didanosine?

Didanosine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.

Didanosine is used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Didanosine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Didanosine is for use in adults and children who are at least 2 weeks old.

Didanosine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking didanosine?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease or pancreatitis (didanosine can cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver or pancreas);
• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, including Raynaud's syndrome; or
• if you drink large amounts of alcohol.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, and use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

How should I take didanosine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Use all HIV medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV should remain under the care of a doctor.

You will need frequent medical tests. Your vision may also need to be checked.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking didanosine?

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice while taking didanosine. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends.

Using this medicine will not prevent your disease from spreading. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What are the possible side effects of didanosine?

• numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands or feet;
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• vision changes; or
• signs of liver or pancreas problems --loss of appetite, upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back), nausea or vomiting, fast heart rate, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Didanosine affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine). Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection --fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;
• trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or
• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
• rash;
• headache; or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect didanosine?

Certain HIV medications or antibiotics should not be taken at the same time as didanosine. These other medicines can affect the levels of didanosine in your bloodstream:

• Ciprofloxacin should be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take didanosine.
• Delavirdine or indinavir should be taken at least 1 hour before you take didanosine.
• Nelfinavir should be taken at least 1 hour after you take didanosine.
• Itraconazole or ketoconazole should be taken at least 2 hours before you take didanosine.

Many drugs can affect didanosine, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about didanosine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 15.02. Revision date: 11/26/2018.