Didanosine

Brand name(s): Videx EC®; Videx®
Other name(s): ddI; dideoxyinosine

Didanosine, when used alone or in combination with other medications, can cause serious damage to the liver and pancreas and a condition called lactic acidosis. Tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol; if you use or have used street drugs; or if you have or have ever had Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, or liver or pancreas disease. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking stavudine (Zerit), especially if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or have taken any of the following medications: acetaminophen (Tylenol, others); allopurinol (Zyloprim); amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); azathioprine (Imuran); cholesterol-lowering medications (statins); dantrolene (Dantrium); furosemide (Lasix); hormone replacement therapy; iron products; isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); ketoconazole (Nizoral); medications to treat HIV or AIDS; 6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol); methotrexate (Rheumatrex); methyldopa (Aldoril); niacin (nicotinic acid); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam); piroxicam (Feldene); pyrazinamide (Rifater); ribavirin (Rebetron); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); salicylate pain relievers such as aspirin, choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trisalate), choline salicylate(Arthropan), diflunisal (Dolobid), magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others), and salsalate (Argesic, Disalcid, Salgesic); sulfonamide antibiotics such as sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole (Urobiotic), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), and sulfisoxazole (Eryzole, Gantrisin, Pediazole); sulindac (Clinoril); valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote); or products containing kava. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: upset stomach, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or swelling, severe back pain, extreme tiredness, weakness, dizziness, light-headedness, fast heart beat, sudden development of a slow or irregular heartbeat, deep or rapid breathing, shortness of breath, dark yellow or brown urine, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellowing of the skin or eyes, feeling cold, fever, or flu-like symptoms. Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are taking didanosine. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk that you will develop serious side effects of didanosine.Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to didanosine. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking didanosine.

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