Drug interactions
Didanosine + Methadone
Severity: Moderate
Didanosine and Methadone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Methadone reduces the exposure to didanosine, particularly the older buffered formulations, which may lessen antiviral efficacy. Didanosine does not meaningfully affect methadone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Didanosine and Methadone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Didanosine belongs to Anti Virals; Methadone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Methadone slows gastrointestinal motility and may alter absorption, lowering didanosine bioavailability.
What to do
Monitor virologic response and consider an alternative antiretroviral regimen if didanosine is essential. Didanosine is rarely used now, and a different nucleoside backbone is generally preferred.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Methadone
- Alvimopan + Methadone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Methadone Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Methadone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Methadone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Methadone Contraindicated
- Lefamulin + Methadone Contraindicated
Other interactions of Didanosine
- Didanosine + Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Hydroxycarbamide Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Ribavirin Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Stavudine Contraindicated
- Allopurinol + Didanosine Major
- Atidarsagene autotemcel + Didanosine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Didanosine with Methadone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Didanosine and Methadone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Methadone reduces the exposure to didanosine, particularly the older buffered formulations, which may lessen antiviral efficacy. Didanosine does not meaningfully affect methadone.
How serious is the interaction between Didanosine and Methadone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor virologic response and consider an alternative antiretroviral regimen if didanosine is essential. Didanosine is rarely used now, and a different nucleoside backbone is generally preferred.
What other medicines interact with Methadone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methadone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Droperidol. The full list is on the Methadone page.
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