Videx Solution

Pronunciation: dye-DAN-oh-seen
Generic Name: Didanosine
Brand Name: Videx

Videx Solution may cause serious and sometimes fatal inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). This has occurred in patients who have just started taking Videx Solution and in patients who have already been taking it. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience sudden stomach or back pain, swelling of the stomach, fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, or fast heartbeat.

Videx Solution may cause severe and sometimes fatal lactic acidosis and liver problems. Fatal lactic acidosis has also occurred in pregnant women who have used Videx Solution along with certain other medicines for HIV (eg, stavudine). Tell your doctor if you are taking stavudine and you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Videx Solution is used for:

Treating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines.

Videx Solution is a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It works by stopping the growth of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT use Videx Solution if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Videx Solution


• you have pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis), certain liver problems (eg, enlarged liver, portal hypertension), abnormal liver function tests, or lactic acidosis


• you are taking allopurinol or ribavirin

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

Before using Videx Solution:

Some medical conditions may interact with Videx Solution. 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 a history of heart problems (eg, heart attack)


• if you have advanced HIV infection (AIDS), kidney problems, liver problems (eg, hepatitis), 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 Videx Solution. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Allopurinol, ganciclovir, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (eg, tenofovir), or ribavirin because they may increase the risk of Videx Solution's side effects


• Aluminum salts (eg, aluminum hydroxide), anorexiants (eg, phentermine), or sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Videx Solution


• 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 their effectiveness may be decreased by Videx Solution


• Hydroxyurea because the risk of pancreatitis may be increased


• Methadone because it may decrease Videx Solution's effectiveness


• Stavudine because the risk of pancreatitis or fatal lactic acidosis in pregnant women may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Videx Solution 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 Videx Solution:

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

• Videx Solution comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Videx Solution refilled.


• Take Videx Solution by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.


• Videx Solution may reduce the effectiveness of certain other medicines when taken together. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should separate Videx Solution from any other medicines that you are taking.


• Shake well before each use.


• Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.


• Continue to take Videx Solution even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.


• If you miss a dose of Videx Solution, 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 Videx Solution. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Videx Solution.

Important safety information:

• Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Videx Solution.


• Videx Solution is not a cure for HIV infection. Patients may still get illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.


• Videx Solution does not stop the spread of HIV to others through blood or sexual contact. Use barrier methods of birth control (eg, condoms) if you have HIV infection. Do not share needles, injection supplies, or items like toothbrushes or razors.


• When your medicine supply is low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. Do not stop taking Videx Solution, even for a short period of time. If you do, the virus may grow resistant to the medicine and become harder to treat.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Videx Solution before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• The risk of severe side effects (eg, lactic acidosis, severe liver problems) may be greater in women, patients who are overweight (obese), and patients who have taken reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, emtricitabine, tenofovir) for a long time. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your risk of severe side effects from Videx Solution.


• Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Videx Solution. The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.


• Videx Solution may improve immune system function. This may reveal hidden infections in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of infection (eg, fever, sore throat, weakness, cough, shortness of breath) after you start Videx Solution.


• Lab tests, including periodic eye exams, liver function, complete blood cell counts, and blood clotting (eg, international normalized ratio [INR]), may be performed while you use Videx Solution. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use Videx Solution with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.


• Videx Solution should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 2 weeks old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Videx Solution while you are pregnant. It is not known if Videx Solution is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Videx Solution to the baby.

Possible side effects of Videx Solution:

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.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry stools; blood in the vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain or discomfort, numbness of an arm or leg, or shortness of breath; confusion; dark urine; dizziness; fainting; fast, shallow breathing; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; lightheadedness; low body temperature; nausea or vomiting; numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet; pale stools; seizures; severe muscle pain or cramping; stomach pain or swelling; tiredness; unusual bruising or bleeding; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Videx side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

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

Proper storage of Videx Solution:

Store Videx Solution in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat and light. Do not keep longer than 30 days. Keep Videx Solution out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Videx Solution, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Videx Solution 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.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Videx Solution. 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.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Videx resources

• Videx Side Effects (in more detail)
• Videx Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Videx Drug Interactions
• Videx Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Videx - Add your own review/rating

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