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DrugsLevel 4 LocalisationS4CAP · TAB · POWEML

Didanosine

Nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitorAntiretroviral

Indications

Registered South African indications:

  • HIV infection

Cautions

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
  • Children < 6 years (cap)
  • Coadministration with stavudine

Cautions

  • Breastfeeding
  • Renal impairment
  • Hepatic impairment
  • History of pancreatitis
  • Patients at risk of lactic acidosis
  • Chronic hepatitis B or C
  • Sodium restricted diet

Adult dosage

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: tab, cap

HIV infection (additional agents required)
- Advanced disease

< 60kg

  • Oral (tab): 125mg, 12hrly
  • Oral (cap): 250mg, dly

> 60kg

  • Oral (tab): 200mg, 12hrly
  • Oral (cap): 400mg, dly

Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water

Cap: Do not cut/crush/chew/dissolve

Paediatric dosage

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: tab

HIV infection (additional agents required)
- Advanced disease

Children younger than 6 months

  • Not established for use

Older than 6 months

  • Oral (tab): 200mg/m2/day, in 2 divided doses
Body surface area (m2) Dose
1.1-1.4 100mg, 12hrly
0.8-1.0 75mg, 12hrly
0.5-0.7 50mg, 12hrly
> 0.4 25mg, 12hrly

Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water

Special populations

Consult HIV/infectious disease specialists prior to any decisions related to ARV regimen termination/switch

Pregnancy

Breastfeeding

Renal Impairment

Hepatic Impairment

Elderly

Adverse reactions

Central Nervous System Disorders

  • Peripheral neurological symptoms 
  • Headache
  • Fatigue

Gastrointestinal Disorders

  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Flatulence
  • Dry mouth
  • Parotid gland enlargement

Hepatobiliary Disorders

  • Hepatitis
  • Hepatic steatosis
  • Hepatic failure
  • Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension
  • Abnormal alkaline phosphatase

Genitourinary Disorders

  • Gynaecomastia
  • Abnormal creatine phosphokinase

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

  • Anorexia

Musculoskeletal Disorders

  • Myalgia 
  • Arthralgia
  • Rhabdomyolysis 
  • Myopathy

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

  • Rash
  • Alopecia

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

  • Sialoadenitis
  • Anemia
  • Leukopenia
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Anaphylactic reaction
  • Fever
  • Abnormal serum amylase

Sensory Disorders

  • Dry eyes
  • Retinal depigmentation
  • Optic neuritis

Interactions

  • Tenofovir
  • Ganciclovir 
  • Valganciclovir
  • Allopurinol
  • Stavudine
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Ribavirin 
  • Lamivudine 
  • Methadone 

Monitoring

  • Serum potassium
  • Uric acid
  • Full blood count with differential
  • CD4 count
  • Viral load
  • Amylase
  • Ophthalmic examination
  • Renal function
  • Hepatic function

Mechanism of action

Didanosine is a purine nucleoside analog active against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in vitro. Following intracellular diffusion, didanosine is metabolised initially by 5’-nucleotidase and further by other cellular enzymes to its active derivative, 2’, 3’-dideoxyadenosine triphosphate (ddATP). DdATP functions as a competitive inhibitor of viral reverse transcriptase with respect to deoxyadenosine triphosphate and as a chain terminator of viral DNA synthesis.

Dosage forms

  • Capsule
  • Tablet
  • Powder, oral

Formulation

Tablet 25mg

  • Aspen Didanosine (Pharmacare)
  • Sonke Didanosine (Ranbaxy)

Tablet 50mg

  • Aspen Didanosine (Pharmacare)
  • Sonke Didanosine (Ranbaxy)

Tablet 100mg

  • Aspen Didanosine (Pharmacare)
  • Sonke Didanosine (Ranbaxy)

Tablet 150mg

  • Aspen Didanosine (Pharmacare)

Capsule 250mg

  • Deladex (Novagen)
  • Sonke Didanosine (Ranbaxy)
  • Videx EC (Bristol Myers Squibb) originator

Capsule 400mg

  • Deladex (Novagen)
  • Sonke Didanosine (Ranbaxy)
  • Videx EC (Bristol Myers Squibb) originator

References

1. SAMF 12th edition page 338 2. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/3596 250mg and 400mg capsule 3. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B27NqM_vidrmTnBvTEpXTGlKT1U (01/2007_Bristol_Videx EC_caps) 4. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B27NqM_vidrmTnBvTEpXTGlKT1U (19/09/2003_Pharmacare_Aspen Didanosine_tab) 5. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/didanosine-drug-information?source=search_result&search=Didanosine&selectedTitle=1~96 6. https://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/didanosine.html

Brands & products

17 products · stale NAPPI snapshot · refreshed 5/28/2026 · 159 days old

tabletGeneric· 10 products

from R3.80/unit
ProductStrengthPackSchedSEPUnitDisp feeNAPPI
Videx 50 mg60S4R228.02R3.80R87.94852961006
Videx 25 mg60S4R228.02R3.80R87.94793221005
Videx 100 mg60S4R239.59R3.99R91.12793213002
Videx 150 mg60S4R318.48R5.31R112.82793205018
Sonke-Didanosine 5050 mg60S4R330.84R5.51R116.22709871001
Sonke-didanosine25 mg60S4R335.91R5.60R117.62709870001
Aspen Didanosine50 mg60S4R357.09R5.95R123.44703332001
Aspen Didanosine25 mg60S4R360.92R6.02R124.50703330001
Aspen Didanosine100 mg60S4R377.67R6.29R129.11703333001
Aspen Didanosine150 mg60S4R507.06R8.45R159.06703392001

capsuleGeneric· 6 products

from R10.76/unit
ProductStrengthPackSchedSEPUnitDisp feeNAPPI
Sonke-Didanosine 400400 mg30S4R322.65R10.76R113.97715671001
Videx Ec 250 Mg250 mg30S4R325.56R10.85R114.77704783001
Deladex 250 Mg Capsules250 mg30S4R372.74R12.42R127.75715073001
Videx Ec 400Mg400 mg30S4R410.03R13.67R138.01704785001
Sonke Didanosine 250250 mg30S4R450.60R15.02R149.17715670001
Deladex 400 Mg Capsules400 mg30S4R469.81R15.66R153.58715074001

powderGeneric· 1 product

from R225.60/unit
ProductStrengthPackSchedSEPUnitDisp feeNAPPI
Videx Paed2 g1S4R225.60R225.60R87.27847518019
Trade names (5)
  • Didanosine (syn. DDI
  • ddI)Aspen Didanosine
  • Deladex
  • Sonke Didanosine
  • Videx EC

Medical aid coverage

data not yet integrated
Discovery Health
not yet integrated
  • Comprehensive Series—
  • Executive Plan—
  • KeyCare Series—
  • Priority Series—
  • Saver Series—

Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.

Bonitas Medical Fund
not yet integrated
  • BonClassic—
  • BonComprehensive—
  • BonEssential—
  • BonFit Select—
  • BonSave—
  • BonStart—

Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.

GEMS — Government Employees Medical Scheme
not yet integrated
  • Beryl—
  • Emerald—
  • Onyx—
  • Ruby—
  • Sapphire—
  • Tanzanite One—

Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.

POLMED — Police Medical Aid Scheme
not yet integrated
  • Aquarium Option—
  • Efficiency Option—
  • Marine Option—

Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.

Interacts with 21 known drugs

Check against other drugs →

Cited in 5 documents

NeoHealth® ID 16268 · updated 10/31/2022