Drug interactions
Didanosine + Ritonavir
Severity: Moderate
Didanosine and Ritonavir: 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
Buffered didanosine formulations and ritonavir oral solution may interact through changes in gastric acidity and administration conditions. Didanosine is acid-labile and ritonavir is best absorbed with food, so concurrent dosing is impractical and may alter exposure to either drug.
What this interaction means in plain words
Didanosine and Ritonavir 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; Ritonavir belongs to Anti Virals.
Why it happens
Didanosine buffering raises gastric pH and its fasting-state requirement conflicts with ritonavir food-dependent absorption, so exposure to either drug may change.
What to do
Separate didanosine from ritonavir by at least 2 hours, giving didanosine on an empty stomach and ritonavir with food. Monitor virologic response.
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 Didanosine
- Didanosine + Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Hydroxycarbamide Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Ribavirin Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Stavudine Contraindicated
- Allopurinol + Didanosine Major
- Atidarsagene autotemcel + Didanosine Major
Other interactions of Ritonavir
- Alfuzosin + Ritonavir Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Ritonavir Contraindicated
- Avanafil + Ritonavir Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Ritonavir Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Ritonavir Contraindicated
- Eletriptan + Ritonavir Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Didanosine with Ritonavir?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Didanosine and Ritonavir 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. Buffered didanosine formulations and ritonavir oral solution may interact through changes in gastric acidity and administration conditions. Didanosine is acid-labile and ritonavir is best absorbed with food, so concurrent dosing is impractical and may alter exposure to either drug.
How serious is the interaction between Didanosine and Ritonavir?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Separate didanosine from ritonavir by at least 2 hours, giving didanosine on an empty stomach and ritonavir with food. Monitor virologic response.
What other medicines interact with Didanosine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Didanosine with, for example, Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df, Hydroxycarbamide, Ribavirin. The full list is on the Didanosine page.
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