Didanosine Oral
In Depth
- Uses and How to Use
- Dosage and Storage
- Precautions and Side Effects
- Drug Interactions
- Drug Images
Pronounced: (dye-DAN-oh-seen)
Didanosine Oral Uses
This drug is used in combination with other medications to help control your HIV infection, thereby improving your quality of life. It also lowers your risk of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer). Didanosine belongs to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-NRTI.
Didanosine is not a cure for HIV and it does not prevent the spread of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination (such as sharing used needles).
How To Use Didanosine Oral
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using didanosine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth usually once daily on an empty stomach, at least 1 and 1/2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal, or as directed by your doctor. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not crush, chew, or open the capsules. Doing so may decrease their effectiveness.
The dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, and response to treatment.
If you are taking HIV medications for the first time, you may experience symptoms of an old infection as your immune system begins to work better. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any trouble breathing, fever, new cough, vision problems, headaches, or skin problems.
It is very important to continue taking this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses. Do not increase your dose, take this drug more often than prescribed, or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your dose without approval from your doctor may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.
This medication works best when the amount of drug in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
