Should I Take DdI If I Have Hiv

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Get the Facts

Didanosine (Videx, ddI)

What Is Didanosine? ddI (Videx) is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and by Barr Laboratories. Didanosine is also known as ddI or dideoxyinosine. Generic versions have been tentatively approved under PEPFAR (see Fact Sheet 475 ). Didanosine is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or nuke. These drugs block the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This enzyme changes HIV's...

Ask the Experts

Undetectable on HU and DDI

Dear DocI write from Zimbabwe! I am a black male 32yrs old.I have known of my HIV + status from 1998 and at that point my VL was around 56000 copies. I went on DDI and HU in June 1998 400 mg DDI and 500mg HU twice a day.My VL dropped to 568 in...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

The CD4/CD8 ratio in HIV uninfected people is usually 1-1.5, meaning that there are usually a little more CD4 cells than CD8 cells. HIV infection results in 2 things happening, infection of the CD4 cell resulting in a decrease in those cells, and... Read more »

DDI - Peripheral neuropathy

I have been HIV positive since 1985. I have severe neuropathy. I havedeveloped resistance to the antivirals I've been taking.My doctor has ordered Didanosine (DDI). What are the chances of the DDImaking my neuropathy worse? THANKS FORYOUR HELP!...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

Yes, if you have severe neuropathy, ddI could definitely make yourneuropathy worse. The "d-drugs" (ddI, ddC, or d4T) are contraindicatedin someone who has severe neuropathy.... Read more »

ddI once a day

hi doc... Let me first say i am very grateful for this forum it has helped me greatly! I have been hiv+ since 93. Currently viral load is undetectable and CD4 750. I have been on Crix 2x a day, zerit 40mg 2x and epivir 150mg 2x a dy....

Response from Brian Boyle, M.D., J.D.

Cornell University, Weill Medical College

MC:ddI EC has now been approved and should be available in pharmacies shortly. It is one capsule, once a day on an empty stomach. The GI side effects of ddI are markedly decreased with this formulation, since most were due to the buffer, which has... Read more »

DDI and Eating Problems?

I have been on a combination therapy which includes DDI for approximately 4 months. I have experienced difficulty in swallowing and eating since beginning the regimen. I have lost close to 30 pounds in the last 4 months. I have heard that DDI can...

Response from Douglas T. Dieterich, M.D.

New York University, School of Medicine

It's hard to answer with out more data, however DDI usually does not cause swallowing problems. It usually causes diarrhea. What do you mean it is working well? I assume that it is lowering the HIV viral load. Swallowing problems should be... Read more »

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Connect With Others

My partner was put on DDI

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hi, My partner is HIV+ and has recently been put onto DDI and
AZT. I think, as a consequence, has become one of the most
unfriendly, annoying people in the world. Is this common, have
other people gone through this and come out the other side? I
need... Read more »

taking ddi

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Taking ddi (Videx)? Do you drink alcohol? My Dr. says I should
have no alcohol as it increases the risk of getting pancreatitis.
I continue to have one beer or one gin and tonic after work and
figure I... Read more »

Sustiva or DDI/hydroxurea

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I am a female recovering addict and have been clean for over ten years. I am getting real weird side effects from Sustiva and even though I started taking it at night, I feel somewhat foggy during the day. Will this end and I feel somewhat normal... Read more »

Headaches and HIV

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I need help desperately. I don't know what is going on with my body. Sometimes with HIV you can gauge yourself and see if things are going your way, sometimes you can't. I can't figure it out. I have been experiencing bad headaches in the last 2... Read more »

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