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|Didanosine Powder

Didanosine Powder

Didanosine Powder is used for:

Treating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines.

Didanosine Powder is a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor that stops the growth of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT use Didanosine Powder if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Didanosine Powder
• you have pancreas problems (pancreatitis), enlarged liver, abnormal liver function tests, or lactic acidosis
• you are taking allopurinol, aluminum salts (eg, aluminum hydroxide), or ribavirin

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Didanosine Powder:

Some medical conditions may interact with Didanosine Powder. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have advanced HIV infection (AIDS), kidney problems, liver problems, gallstones, nerve problems (neuropathy), high blood cholesterol or lipid levels, or high blood amylase levels
• if you are overweight or you have a history of alcohol abuse

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Didanosine Powder. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Methadone because the effectiveness of Didanosine Powder may be decreased
• Allopurinol, ganciclovir, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, tenofovir), or ribavirin because side effects of Didanosine Powder may be increased
• Hydroxyurea because the risk of pancreatitis may be increased
• Stavudine because the risk of pancreatitis or fatal lactic acidosis in pregnant women may be increased
• Aluminum salts (eg, aluminum hydroxide), anorexiants (eg, phentermine), or sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine) because side effects may be increased by Didanosine Powder
• Azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), delavirdine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir), lithium, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), sulfones (eg, dapsone), or tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline) because the effectiveness of these medicines may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Didanosine Powder may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Didanosine Powder:

Use Didanosine Powder as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Didanosine Powder comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Didanosine Powder refilled. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Didanosine Powder.
• Take Didanosine Powder on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
• Open each packet carefully and empty the contents into 4 ounces of water. Stir until the powder completely dissolves. This may take 2 to 3 minutes. Drink the entire solution immediately.
• Didanosine Powder may reduce the effectiveness of certain other medicines when taken together. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should separate Didanosine Powder from any other medicines that you are taking.
• Continue taking Didanosine Powder even if you feel better.
• If you miss a dose of Didanosine Powder, take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. It is important not to miss doses of Didanosine Powder. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Didanosine Powder.

Important safety information:

• Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Didanosine Powder.
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Didanosine Powder.
• Didanosine Powder contains sodium. If you are on a low sodium diet, include Didanosine Powder when you are counting your daily sodium.
• Didanosine Powder is not a cure for HIV infection and patients may continue to acquire illnesses/infections associated with HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS). Remain under the care of our healthcare provider.
• Didanosine Powder offers no protection from the transmission of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Use barrier forms of contraception (eg, condoms) if you are infected with HIV.
• When your medicine supply begins to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacy as soon as possible. The virus may develop resistance to Didanosine Powder if you stop taking it, even for a short period of time, and may become harder to treat.
• Changes in body fat may occur in some patients taking this type of medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck, breast, and around the trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face. The cause and long-term effects are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
• LAB TESTS, including periodic eye exams, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Didanosine Powder with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Use Didanosine Powder with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 2 weeks of age; safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Didanosine Powder during pregnancy. It is unknown if Didanosine Powder is excreted in breast milk. HIV-infected mothers should not breast-feed their infants because of the risk of transmitting the HIV infection or Didanosine Powder.

Possible side effects of Didanosine Powder:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Breast enlargement; changes in body fat; darkened complexion with purple markings; diarrhea; dry mouth; headache; itching; muscle pain; skin and facial wasting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; changes in vision; confusion; dark urine; dizziness; fast, shallow breathing; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever or chills; lightheadedness; low body temperature; nausea or vomiting; numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet; seizures; severe muscle pain or cramping; stomach pain; tiredness; weakness; yellowing of skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dark urine; diarrhea; pale stools; severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; tingling, burning, or numbness in hands or feet; unusual fatigue; yellowing of skin or eyes.

Store Didanosine Powder at room temperature (59 to 86 degrees F; 15 to 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Didanosine Powder out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Didanosine Powder, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Didanosine Powder is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Didanosine Powder. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.