Generic Name: Didanosine (dye-DAN-oh-seen)
Brand Name: Videx
Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets may cause serious and sometimes fatal inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). This has occurred in patients who have just started taking Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets and in patients who have already been taking it. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience sudden stomach or back pain, swelling of the stomach, fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, or fast heartbeat.
Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets may cause severe and sometimes fatal lactic acidosis and liver problems. Fatal lactic acidosis has also occurred in pregnant women who have used Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets along with certain other medicines for HIV (eg, stavudine). Tell your doctor if you are taking stavudine and you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets are used for:
Treating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines.
Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets are a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor that stops the growth of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.
Do NOT use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets
- you have pancreas problems (pancreatitis), an enlarged liver, abnormal liver function tests, or lactic acidosis
- you are taking allopurinol, aluminum salts (eg, aluminum hydroxide), or ribavirin
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets:
Some medical conditions may interact with Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of heart problems (eg, heart attack)
- if you have advanced HIV infection (AIDS), kidney problems, liver problems, gallstones, nerve problems (neuropathy), high blood cholesterol or lipid levels, high blood amylase levels, or phenylketonuria
- if you are overweight or you have a history of alcohol abuse
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Allopurinol, ganciclovir, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, tenofovir), or ribavirin because they may increase the risk of Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets's side effects
- Aluminum salts (eg, aluminum hydroxide), anorexiants (eg, phentermine), or sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets
- Azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), delavirdine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir), lithium, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), sulfones (eg, dapsone), or tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets
- Hydroxyurea because the risk of pancreatitis may be increased
- Methadone because it may decrease Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets's effectiveness
- Stavudine because the risk of pancreatitis or fatal lactic acidosis in pregnant women may be increased
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets:
Use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Take Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
- Do not swallow tablets whole. Chew tablets thoroughly or crush the tablets and mix in at least 1 oz (30 mL) of water. This mixture may be added to 1 ounce (30 mL) clear apple juice to improve taste. Make sure to stir well and drink the entire solution immediately.
- Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets may reduce the effectiveness of certain other medicines when taken together. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should separate Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets from any other medicines that you are taking.
- Continue taking Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets even if you feel better. Do not miss any doses.
- If you miss a dose of Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets, take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. It is important not to miss doses of Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets.
Important safety information:
- Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets.
- Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets are not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
- Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets does not stop the spread of HIV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets, even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat.
- Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
- Phenylketonurics - Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets has phenylalanine in it.
- Lab tests, including periodic eye exams, may be performed while you use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
- Use Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 2 weeks old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets while you are pregnant. It is not known if Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets are found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets to the baby.
Possible side effects of Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Breast enlargement; changes in body fat; darkened complexion with purple markings; diarrhea; dry mouth; headache; itching; muscle pain; skin and facial wasting; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain or discomfort, numbness of an arm or leg, or shortness or breath; confusion; dark urine; dizziness; fainting; fast, shallow breathing; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever or chills; lightheadedness; low body temperature; nausea and vomiting; numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet; seizures; severe muscle pain or cramping; stomach pain; tiredness; weakness; yellowing of skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Didanosine side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dark urine; diarrhea; pale stools; severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; tingling, burning, or numbness in hands or feet; unusual fatigue; yellowing of skin or eyes.
Proper storage of Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets:
Store Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store the tablets in a damp place, such as the bathroom, medicine cabinet, or near the kitchen sink. If the tablets are dispersed in water, the dose may be held for up to 1 hour at room temperature. Keep Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Didanosine Chewable/Dispersible Buffered Tablets. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Didanosine resources
- Didanosine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Didanosine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Didanosine Drug Interactions
- Didanosine Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Didanosine - Add your own review/rating
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- HIV Infection
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