Please read this factsheet together with the patient information leaflet carefully before taking your medicine. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Didanosine, also known as ddI or Videx is a nucleoside analogue or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTIs). NRTIs are used for the treatment of HIV infection, in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. Please speak to your clinic doctor or pharmacist if you would like more information about how these drugs work.

Before taking didanosine.
Tell your doctor about:

* All other drugs that you are taking, including any that you buy over the counter in a community pharmacy or any herbal remedies;
* Any previous allergy to any other medicines;
* If you have ever had any liver or kidney disease;
* If you have ever had pancreatitis;
* If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant;

Taking your didanosine

* Didanosine is available as a 400mg, 250mg, 200mg and 125mg enteric coated capsule;
* The usual dose is 400mg (one capsule) once daily. If you weigh less then 60kg and/or you are taking tenofovir your dose may be reduced;
* The capsules should be swallowed whole, not chewed, crushed or dissolved;
* The current recommendations for taking your ddI EC are as follows:
ddI EC capsules should be taken on an empty stomach at least two hours before or two hours after food i.e. no food should be consumed in the 2 hours preceding the dose or for the 2 hours following the dose;

However, if you are prescribed DDI with tenofovir then you should take both medications together with food.

* Unlike the tablet form of didanosine, you may take the EC capsules at the same time of day as other medicines;
* Didanosine works best if there is a constant amount in your bloodstream. It is therefore very important to take the tablets regularly. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember;
* Try to take the doses as close as possible to twenty four hours apart at the same time each day;

It is essential that you do not miss your daily dose.

Do not run out of didanosine. If you are going on holiday and need extra supplies - tell your doctor. Your pharmacist will check that you have enough medicines to last until your next appointment.

Side effects
Didanosine, like all other medicines, has some side effects. The most important are:

* Nausea and vomiting;
* Bloating;
* Diarrhoea;
* Fatigue;
* Rash;

The above side effects are common with the tablet formulation of didanosine, but are greatly reduced with the EC capsule formulation.

* Peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are tingling, burning, pain or numbness in the hands and/or feet;

A condition called pancreatitis has occurred rarely in patients who are taking didanosine. Pancreatitis is a dangerous inflammation of the pancreas. Tell your doctor straight away if you develop stomach pain, nausea or vomiting. This condition occurs more often in patients who have had it previously, and in patients who are also taking stavudine (d4T), with or without hydroxyurea.

Lactic acidosis has been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues. Your doctor will be monitoring your lactate levels, but if you experience the following symptoms, inform your doctor: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, rapid, deep breathing or muscle weakness.

If you experience any of the side effects above or any new symptoms after you start didanosine, tell your doctor who will tell you what to do. If you decide you want to stop taking didanosine, it is important that you tell your doctor so that they can discuss other treatment options with you.

Admission to hospital
If you are admitted to hospital please bring all your medicines with you. This is especially important for anti-HIV medication as it has to be taken regularly. Thomas Macaulay Ward now operate a self medication programme. Some patients are able to self administer their own medicines to enable them to stick to the routine the have been used to at home.

Storing didanosine EC capsules
Didanosine EC capsules should be stored at room temperature.