Didanosine Use: What You Need to Know About This HIV Medication

When talking about didanosine, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) used to treat HIV infection. Also known as ddI, it was one of the first drugs approved to stop HIV from copying itself inside the body. While newer medications have taken center stage, didanosine still plays a role—especially in cases where other drugs aren’t an option or have stopped working.

Didanosine use is mostly seen in people with advanced HIV or those who’ve developed resistance to other antiretrovirals. It’s not a first-line choice anymore, but it’s still in use because it works differently than drugs like tenofovir or emtricitabine. The drug needs to be taken on an empty stomach—usually at least 30 minutes before or two hours after eating—because food can cut how well your body absorbs it. People on didanosine often need regular liver and pancreas checks because it can cause serious side effects like pancreatitis or liver damage. It’s also linked to nerve damage in the hands and feet, which can feel like tingling, burning, or numbness. If you’re taking it, watch for these signs and talk to your doctor right away.

Didanosine doesn’t work alone. It’s always part of a combo, usually with two or three other HIV drugs, to keep the virus from bouncing back. This is called antiretroviral therapy, or ART. Even though it’s older, didanosine has been studied in global health programs where cost and availability matter. It’s cheaper than some newer options, so it still shows up in resource-limited settings. But its use is declining because newer drugs are safer, easier to take, and have fewer long-term risks. Still, for some patients, it’s the only option left that works.

What you’ll find below is a collection of real-world guides and comparisons that connect to didanosine use—not because they mention it directly, but because they cover the same challenges: managing HIV meds with side effects, understanding drug interactions, recognizing when older treatments still make sense, and knowing how to stay safe while using antiretrovirals. You’ll see how other drugs like atazanavir, tenofovir, and lamivudine are used in HIV care. You’ll find advice on handling side effects, avoiding liver damage, and making sense of complex treatment plans. These aren’t just random posts—they’re the practical pieces that help people navigate the real-world realities of HIV treatment, whether they’re on the latest pills or an older one like didanosine.