Drug interactions
Didanosine + Tetracycline
Severity: Moderate
Didanosine and Tetracycline: 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 formulations of didanosine contain antacid cations such as magnesium and aluminium that bind tetracycline in the gut. This reduces tetracycline absorption and may lead to treatment failure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Didanosine and Tetracycline 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; Tetracycline belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Chelation of tetracycline by polyvalent cations in buffered didanosine, reducing gastrointestinal absorption.
What to do
Give oral tetracycline at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after buffered didanosine. Consider a non-chelating antibiotic if separation is impractical.
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 Tetracycline
- Acitretin + Tetracycline Contraindicated
- Methoxyflurane + Tetracycline Contraindicated
- Isotretinoin + Tetracycline Major
- Palovarotene + Tetracycline Major
- Strontium ranelate + Tetracycline Major
- Tetracycline + Tretinoin Major
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 Tetracycline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Didanosine and Tetracycline 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 formulations of didanosine contain antacid cations such as magnesium and aluminium that bind tetracycline in the gut. This reduces tetracycline absorption and may lead to treatment failure.
How serious is the interaction between Didanosine and Tetracycline?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give oral tetracycline at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after buffered didanosine. Consider a non-chelating antibiotic if separation is impractical.
What other medicines interact with Tetracycline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tetracycline with, for example, Acitretin, Methoxyflurane, Isotretinoin. The full list is on the Tetracycline page.
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