Videx (didanosine)

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- Headache
- Rash
- Fatigue
- Disorder of the peripheral nerves causing weakness and numbness (peripheral neuropathy)
- Dry mouth
- Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the muscles and joints
- Elevated levels of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis)
- Raised cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- High blood uric acid level (hyperuricaemia) which can cause kidney problems and gout
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Changes to the retina and optic nerve of the eye
- Dry eyes
- Liver disorders
- Blood disorders

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

You should tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are using, particularly those listed below, before you start treatment with this medicine. This includes those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. Likewise, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medicines while you are taking this medicine, so they can check that the combination is safe.

Videx chewable/dispersible tablets contain an antacid to stop the active ingredient didanosine being broken down by the acid in the stomach. For this reason, medicines whose absorption can be affected by antacids should not be taken within two hours of taking the chewable/dispersible tablets. These medicines include the following:

- azole-type antifungals, eg ketoconazole and itraconazole
- tetracycline-type antibiotics, eg tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline
- some quinolone-type antibiotics, eg ciprofloxacin.

The following medicines may increase the blood level of didanosine and people who are taking any of these should be monitored for increased side effects of didanosine:

- allopurinol
- ganciclovir.

The blood level of didanosine may also be increased if it is taken in combination with another anti-HIV medicine called tenofovir (Viread). This may increase the risk of didanosine side effects. Studies using lower doses of didanosine with tenofovir to avoid this problem have shown a high rate of early virological failure and emergence of resistance to the medicine. For this reason, using tenofovir in combination with didanosine is not recommended, particularly in people with a high viral load and low CD4 count. If your doctor feels it is necessary to take these medicines together, your viral load and CD4 counts should be regularly checked, and you should be monitored for any possible side effects of didanosine, in particular pancreatitis and lactic acidosis.

There have been reports of a high rate of virological failure and the emergence of resistance at early stage when didanosine was combined with lamivudine plus tenofovir as triple therapy.

Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide) is not recommended for use in combination with this medicine, as it may increase the risk of liver problems, pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Videx EC

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