<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" What is Videx EC\u00A0used for?   HIV infection. Videx EC must be used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines.  How does Videx EC\u00A0work? Videx EC gastro-resistant capsules contain the active ingredient didanosine (also known as ddi), which is a type of medicine called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection.  AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is caused by infection with HIV. This virus invades cells of the immune system, particularly the white blood cells known as CD4 T-helper lymphocytes. These cells normally work to activate other cells in the immune system to fight infection. Since HIV kills CD4 T-helper cells, over time the body becomes less able to fight the virus or subsequent infections. Once the virus is inside the CD4 T-cell it multiplies. Part of the process of viral multiplication involves the conversion of the virus genetic material, RNA, into DNA. This is achieved by a compound essential to the virus, called reverse transcriptase. Reverse transcriptase is a compound known as an enzyme. Didanosine works by blocking the action of this enzyme, thereby interfering with the conversion of viral RNA into DNA. This stops the virus from multiplying.  There is no cure for HIV, but didanosine is one of a number of medications that lower the amount of virus in the body (viral load), help the immune system to recover, and therefore slow down or stop the progression of the disease from HIV to AIDS.  A combination of several anti-HIV medicines is required to fight HIV because the virus can become resistant to one agent very quickly. This is known as combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Didanosine is used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs that attack the HIV virus in different ways. This minimises the virus&amp;#039;s ability to replicate and multiply, and helps prevent it becoming resistant to treatment. How do I take Videx EC?  Didanosine can be broken down and made ineffective by the acid in the stomach. For this reason, Videx EC gastro-resistant capsules have a special &amp;quot;enteric coating&amp;quot; that protects the didanosine from the stomach acid. The capsules should be swallowed whole and not chewed, crushed or opened, because this would stop the special coating from working. Videx EC capsules should be taken on an empty stomach, because the presence of food in the stomach can reduce the absorption of the didanosine. The capsules should be taken at least two hours before or two hours after food. They should be swallowed whole with at least 100ml water.  Videx EC capsules are taken either once a day or twice a day (12 hours apart). Follow the instructions given by your doctor. You should take your dose at the same time(s) each day. If you forget to take a dose you should take it as soon as you remember (at least two hours before or after a meal). However, if it is nearly time for your next dose you should not take the missed dose; just take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. You must keep taking this medicine regularly as prescribed unless your doctor tells you to stop.  Important information about Videx EC  The HIV virus is very good at becoming resistant to anti-HIV medicines. For this reason it is very important that you carefully follow your doctor&amp;#039;s instructions for taking your anti-HIV medicines, in order to maintain effective levels of the medicines in your blood. If the blood levels of the medicines drop, the virus will be given more chance to replicate and develop resistance to the drugs. Skipping even a few doses increases the risk of treatment failure, so you should make sure that you take all your doses at the correct time, and that you visit your doctor for repeat prescriptions before you run out of medicines.  Treatment of HIV infection with anti-HIV medicines such as this one has been shown to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to other people through sexual contact. However, it does not remove this risk entirely. You should continue to use condoms to avoid\u00A0transmitting the virus to your sexual partner. Combination antiretroviral therapy has been associated with a redistribution of body fat (lipodystrophy) in people with HIV. The long-term consequences of this are currently unknown, however your doctor may wish to monitor your body fat, and the levels of lipids (eg cholesterol) and sugar (glucose) in your blood, and may prescribe additional medicines for any lipid disorders that occur during treatment with this medicine. Contact your doctor if you notice any changes in your body fat during treatment with your HIV medicines.  Some people being treated with combination antiretroviral therapy may develop a bone condition called osteonecrosis. This condition is caused by loss of blood supply to a bone, causing death of the bone tissue. The risk of the condition is thought to be increased by corticosteroid use, alcohol consumption, severe immunosuppression, higher body mass index, advanced HIV disease and long-term use of antiretroviral medicines. If you notice any joint stiffness, aches and pains (especially of the hip, knee and shoulder) or difficulty in movement while using this medicine, you should tell your doctor so this can be investigated.   If you have advanced HIV and a history of opportunistic infections such as pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) or cytomegalovirus (CMV), you may experience signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections soon after you start combination anti-HIV treatment. It is believed that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body&amp;#039;&amp;#039;s immune response, which enables the body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms. You should tell your doctor immediately if you experience any signs or symptoms of infection, such as inflammation or high temperature, after starting treatment with this medicine.  The class of medicines that didanosine belongs to can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis, which is an excess of lactic acid in the blood, together with an enlarged liver. This side effect is more likely to occur in overweight women and people with liver disease (particularly hepatitis C treated with alpha interferon and ribavirin). If it occurs, lactic acidosis usually develops after a few months of treatment. Your doctor will monitor you for this side effect, but symptoms that might indicate it&amp;#039;s development include rapid and/or deep breathing and non-specific symptoms such as feeling weak, sick or generally unwell, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite or weight loss. You should tell your doctor if you experience any of these.  You should have regular blood tests to monitor your liver function while you are taking this medicine. This is especially important if you already have any problems with your liver, in particular chronic hepatitis B or C. Symptoms that may suggest a liver problem include persistent nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, or the development of jaundice (a yellow colouring to the skin and the whites of the eyes). Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Your doctor may also want you to have regular blood tests during treatment to check for a side effect called pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). You should let your doctor know if you experience sudden unexplained stomach or abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting while taking this medicine, as these could be symptoms of pancreatitis.  It is recommended that you have eye examinations every year while you are taking this medicine, as it can sometimes cause eye problems. Consult your doctor if you experience any disturbances in your vision while taking this medicine. This is particularly important for children.  Consult your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal sensations in your feet and/or hands while taking this medicine, for example, numbness, tingling or burning sensations or pain, as this could be indicative of a nerve problem called peripheral neuropathy.  Videx EC should be used with caution in  People with decreased kidney function. People with decreased liver function, liver disease or an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly).  Hepatitis, especially chronic hepatitis B or C.  People with a history of alcohol abuse.  Obese women. People with a history of pancreatitis. People with raised levels of fats called triglycerides in their blood. People with raised levels of uric acid in their blood (hyperuricaemia). People on a salt restricted diet (Videx EC capsules contain sodium).  Videx EC should not\u00A0be used in  Videx EC capsules are not licensed for children under six years of age. (Videx chewable/dispersable tablets should be used for this age group).  This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.   The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been fully established. However, combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) is widely used to help prevent transmission of HIV infection from a pregnant woman to her developing baby. This should only be prescribed by specialists in HIV infection. Didanosine must not be used in combination with stavudine in pregnancy because there is an increased risk of lactic acidosis (see above) with this combination. It is important to get medical advice from your doctor straight away if you think you could be pregnant while you are taking this medicine.  In the UK it is currently recommended that women infected with HIV should not breastfeed their infants, regardless of their treatment, in order to avoid transmitting the virus to the baby in the breast milk. Mothers are advised to feed their babies with formula from birth. You should discuss this with your doctor.  Possible side effects of Videx EC Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. Very common (affect more than 1 in 10 people)  Diarrhoea.  Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)  Feeling weak or tired. Headache. Fever and shivering. Loss of appetite. Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, wind or abdominal pain. Dry mouth. Problems with the peripheral nerves, causing symptoms such as weakness, tingling and numbness in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy - see important information\u00A0section above). Pain in the muscles or joints. Rash. Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). Enlargement of the breasts in men (gynaecomastia). Increased blood uric acid level (hyperuricaemia).  Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)  Inflammation of a salivary gland. Dry eyes. Changes to the retina and inflammation of the optic nerve of the eye - see important information section above. Decreased numbers of red blood cells (anaemia), white blood cells (leucopenia) or platelets (thrombocytopenia) in the blood. Diabetes. High or low blood sugar levels. Elevated levels of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis - see important information\u00A0section above). Fatty liver or liver failure. Hair loss (alopecia). Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis - see important information\u00A0section above).  Rare (affect between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000 people)  Enlargement of a salivary gland.  The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine&amp;#039;s manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you think you have experienced a side effect from a medicine or vaccine you should check the patient information leaflet. This lists the known side effects and what to do if you get them. You can also get advice from your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If they think it&amp;#039;&amp;#039;s necessary they&amp;#039;ll report it for you. You can also report side effects yourself using the yellow card website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. How can Videx EC affect other medicines? You should tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are using, particularly those listed below, before you start treatment with this medicine. This includes those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. Likewise, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medicines while you are taking this medicine, so they can check that the combination is safe. The following medicines are not recommended in combination with didanosine because they may increase the risk of side effects:  allopurinol hydroxycarbamide ribavirin stavudine  tenofovir.  The following medicines may increase the blood level of didanosine and people who are taking any of these should be monitored for increased side effects of didanosine:  ganciclovir  valganciclovir.  There may be an increased risk of pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy if other medicines that can cause these side effects are taken in combination with didanosine. Methadone may reduce the blood level of didanosine and could make it less effective. The weight loss medicine orlistat has been reported to reduce the absorption of anti-HIV medicines from the gut and could make them less effective. Tipranavir and Videx EC capsules should be taken at least two hours apart, because tipranavir may reduce the absorrtion of didanosine from Videx EC. Other medicines containing the same active ingredient   Videx tablets.  Further reading For background information about our medicine factsheets, including the references used to produce them, click here. Last updated 14.04.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/infections/a8347/videx-ec-didanosine/>