Videx BufferedOral - Drug Information and Side Effects on Drug3k.com


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Overview

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How To Use

Side Effects

Precautions

Missed Dose

Drug Interactions

Videx Buffered

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 (e.g., new infections, cancer). Didanosine belongs to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.Didanosine is not a cure for HIV and it does not prevent the spread of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination (e.g., sharing used needles).This medication may also be used to prevent HIV infection after contact with the virus.
Notes

To reduce the risk of spreading HIV to others, always use effective barrier protections (e.g., latex or polyurethane condoms, dental dams) during all sexual activity.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood counts, kidney tests, liver tests, viral load, t-cell counts, nerve tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Consult your doctor for more details.Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.

Storage

Store in a tightly closed medicine bottle at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C).
Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

How To Use

Read the Patient Information Guide 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 without food, usually 1-2 times daily or as directed by your doctor.
If you chew the tablets, do so completely and swallow.
You may also crush the tablets or dissolve them in water.
Place tablets in at least 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of water until dissolved (about 10 minutes).
The tablets may not dissolve completely.
Stir to mix any small particles into the water and drink all of the mixture immediately.
Add more water to the glass and drink to swallow all of the tablet particles.
If you wish, you may add 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of apple juice to the water and drink immediately.
Do not mix with any other beverage.The dosage is based on your age, weight, kidney function, liver function, medical condition, and response to therapy.It is very important to continue taking this medication (and other anti-HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor.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.Do not take more or less of this drug 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.

Side Effects

See also Warning section.Headache, diarrhea, or tingling/numbness of hands or feet may occur.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: loss of appetite, tiredness, hair loss, vision problems.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding.Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this medication (e.g., increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs).
The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown.
Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor, as well as the possible role of exercise to reduce this side effect.If you are taking HIV medications for the first time, you may experience symptoms of an old infection.
This may happen as your immune system begins to work better.
Symptoms may include: new cough, trouble breathing, fever, new vision problems, new headaches, new skin problems.Contact your doctor immediately.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Before taking didanosine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: pancreatitis with other HIV medicines, kidney problems, liver problems, nerve problems (e.g., peripheral neuropathy), alcohol use, very high fat levels in the blood (triglycerides), gallbladder problems (e.g., gallstones).Avoid alcoholic beverages because they may increase your risk for liver problems and/or pancreatitis.This medication can cause severe nerve problems in the hands/feet/legs (peripheral neuropathy).
Symptoms may include numbness/tingling/pain, muscle weakness, or decreased muscle control.
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately so that you may be monitored closely.
Your doctor may decide to reduce or stop your dose of didanosine.If you have phenylketonuria, you should not take didanosine chewable tablets since they contain phenylalanine.Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially the increased risk of pancreatitis.Kidney function declines as you grow older.
This medication is removed by the kidneys.
Therefore, caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially the increased risk of pancreatitis.This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.
However, it is now normal to prescribe HIV medicines for pregnant women with HIV.
This has been shown to decrease the risk of giving HIV to the baby.
Didanosine may be part of that treatment.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk.
Because breast milk can transmit HIV, do not breast-feed.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it is less than 2 hours before the time for your next dose.
In that case, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to catch up.

Drug Interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it.
Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: ribavirin, allopurinol.If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting didanosineBefore using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: hydroxyurea, methadone, tenofovir, drugs that are known to cause nerve problems (e.g., isoniazid, zalcitabine, stavudine, vincristine), drugs known to cause pancreatitis (e.g., pentamidine, ganciclovir), liquid antacids.Some medications are poorly absorbed if taken with antacids.
Since didanosine chewable tablets contain a large amount of antacid, the following medicines may not be absorbed as well: ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, tetracycline antibiotics, indinavir, and nelfinavir.Consult with your pharmacist how long you must wait between your doses of any of these medications and didanosine chewable tablets.

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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.