What is didanosine?
Didanosine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.
Didanosine is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Didanosine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Didanosine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about didanosine?
You should not use didanosine if you are allergic to it. Do not take didanosine together with allopurinol (Zyloprim) or ribavirin (Rebetol, Ribasphere, Copegus, Virazole).
Some people develop lactic acidosis while taking didanosine. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, fast or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.
Didanosine can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver or pancreas. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms while taking didanosine: severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Do not take didanosine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Lactic acidosis or liver problems caused by didanosine can be very dangerous during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking didanosine?
You should not use didanosine if you are allergic to it. Do not take didanosine together with allopurinol (Zyloprim) or ribavirin (Rebetol, Ribasphere, Copegus, Virazole).
Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking didanosine. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you are overweight or have liver disease, if you are a woman, or if you have taken HIV or AIDS medications for a long time. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.
Didanosine can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver or pancreas. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease or a history of pancreatitis.
To make sure you can safely take didanosine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
a history of numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, including Raynaud's syndrome; or
a history of pancreatitis;
if you also take stavudine (Zerit).
Do not take didanosine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Lactic acidosis or liver problems caused by didanosine can be very dangerous during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of didanosine on the baby.
Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.