Can you answer the following questions about Videx®?
What is the generic name? Any abbreviations?
What "class" antiretroviral is it and how does it work?
With food, without food or food doesn't matter?
Any side effects?
Any possible drug interactions?
What is a typical dose?
Any other significant counseling points?
Videx ® (Didanosine,
ddI) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
(NRTI) that
inhibits viral replication.
Videx ® EC, the new enteric
coated didanosine, needs to be given 1
hour before or after food. The
tabs and oral solution need to be given 1/2
hour before.
Videx ® (Didanosine,
ddI) can be dosed once or twice daily, depending on the formulation
prescribed.
Videx ® (Didanosine,
ddI) tablets and powder for oral solution should be
taken ½ hour
before or 1 hour after a meal.
Videx ® (Didanosine,
ddI) may cause
nausea, diarrhea,
peripheral neuropathy, and
pancreatitis.
Lactic acidosis with hepatic steatosis is a rare but potentially fatal
toxicity associated with the use of NRTIs.
As with all antiretrovirals, adherence is
crucial. Non-adherence is a
frequent cause of drug failure and viral resistance, not only to Didanosine,
but to other NRTIs as well.
