SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause headache, cough, rash, weakness, loss of appetite, chills, fever, sore tongue or mouth, change of taste, muscle or joint pain or insomnia as your body adjusts to the medication. Inform your doctor if these symptoms persist or become worse. Notify your doctor immediately if you experience: severe diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, tingling, numbness or pain in your hands or feet, yellowing of eyes or skin, unusual bleeding or bruising, dark urine, rapid breathing. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, breathing trouble. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: pancreatic disease, tingling of the hands or feet (called peripheral neuropathy), kidney problems, liver disease, heart problems, gall bladder problems, high fats in the blood (triglycerides), alcohol use, major injuries/surgeries/infections, vision problems, any allergies. Avoid alcoholic beverages because they may worsen pancreatitis. Before using didanosine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known if didanosine passes into breast milk. Because breast milk can pass HIV infection, do not breast-feed.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: allopurinol, ribavirin. If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting didanosine. Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you may use, especially of: benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, triazolam), delavirdine, drugs that decrease stomach acid (e.g., cimetidine, omeprazole), ganciclovir, protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), tenofovir, methadone, stavudine, zalcitabine, zidovudine. Also, report the use of drugs that may increase the risk of pancreatitis (e.g., pentamidine or sulfonamides such as cotrimoxazole). Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use dapsone, itraconazole, ketoconazole or tetracycline antibiotics within 2 hours of this medication. Separate the timing of doses if you are also taking a quinolone antibiotic (e.g., ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin). Ask your pharmacist for specific instructions on how far apart to take each dose. This medication contains a significant amount of antacid components. Tell your doctor if you are using other antacid products. Food decreases the absorption of this drug. Follow your doctor's advice about food and the use of this drug. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.