didanosine Health Article

How should I take didanosine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Didanosine can be taken with or without food.

Take didanosine with a full glass of water. Take didanosine on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medicine. Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release capsule (Videx EC). Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. Certain HIV medications or antibiotics should not be taken at the same time as didanosine because they can affect the levels of this medicine in your blood stream:

• ciprofloxacin (Cipro) should be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take didanosine.

• delavirdine (Rescriptor) or indinavir (Crixivan) should be taken at least 1 hour before you take didanosine.

• nelfinavir (Viracept) should be taken at least 1 hour after you take didanosine.

• itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral) should be taken at least 2 hours before you take didanosine.

To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store this medication at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from moisture and heat. Store the liquid form of didanosine in the refrigerator. The liquid is good for 30 days after it is mixed at the pharmacy. Throw away any leftover didanosine liquid that is more than 30 days old.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include numbness or tingling, joint pain, severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fast heart rate, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.