Does Didanosine Interact with Ribavirin?
CDI records a contraindicated classification for Didanosine and Ribavirin. The stored summary is: Coadministration increases didanosine exposure and active metabolite, causing or worsening clinical toxicities including fatal hepatic failure, peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis, and symptomatic hyperlactatemia/lactic acidosis. The mechanism involves increased exposure to didanosine and its active metabolite (dideoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate). Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Contraindicated
- Ribavirin Class
- Nucleoside Analog Antiviral
- Management
- Do not take together
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Increased exposure to didanosine and its active metabolite (dideoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate)
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Didanosine and your doctor is considering prescribing Ribavirin (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask about alternative medications that do not interact with your current regimen
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider