Drug interactions
Didanosine + Stavudine
Severity: Contraindicated
Didanosine and Stavudine: contraindicated 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
Combining these two nucleoside analogues markedly raises the risk of pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy and lactic acidosis with hepatic steatosis. Fatal cases have been reported, particularly in pregnant women.
What this interaction means in plain words
Didanosine and Stavudine are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Didanosine belongs to Anti Virals; Stavudine belongs to Anti Virals.
Why it happens
Additive mitochondrial toxicity from inhibition of mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma.
What to do
Avoid the combination and use a safer nucleoside backbone. If already on it, switch promptly and monitor for symptoms of pancreatitis, neuropathy and lactic acidosis.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Stavudine
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Stavudine Contraindicated
- Hydroxycarbamide + Stavudine Contraindicated
- Stavudine + Zidovudine Contraindicated
- Atidarsagene autotemcel + Stavudine Major
- Betibeglogene autotemcel + Stavudine Major
- Elivaldogene autotemcel + Stavudine Major
Other interactions of Didanosine
- Didanosine + Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Hydroxycarbamide Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Hydroxyurea Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Ribavirin Contraindicated
- Allopurinol + Didanosine Major
- Atidarsagene autotemcel + Didanosine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Didanosine with Stavudine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Didanosine and Stavudine are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Combining these two nucleoside analogues markedly raises the risk of pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy and lactic acidosis with hepatic steatosis. Fatal cases have been reported, particularly in pregnant women.
How serious is the interaction between Didanosine and Stavudine?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination and use a safer nucleoside backbone. If already on it, switch promptly and monitor for symptoms of pancreatitis, neuropathy and lactic acidosis.
What other medicines interact with Stavudine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Stavudine with, for example, Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df, Hydroxycarbamide, Zidovudine. The full list is on the Stavudine page.
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