Fact Sheets on Antiretroviral Drugs

Storage
� Room temperature for tablets and capsules.
<strong>Fact</strong> <strong>Sheets</strong> on Antiretroviral Drugs
� Reconstituted buffered powder should be refrigerated; oral solution for
children is stable after reconstitution for 30 days if refrigerated.
Dose (WHO recommended)
Adults: > 60 kg: 200 mg (buff. tabs.) twice daily or 250 mg (buff.
powder) twice daily or 400 mg once daily (buff. tabs. or
EC caps.)
< 60 kg: 125 mg (buff. tabs.) twice daily or 167 mg (buff.
powder) twice daily or 250 mg once daily (buff. tabs. or EC caps.)
Children: < 3 months: 50 mg/m 2 of body surface twice daily or 240
mg/m 2 once daily
Food effect
3 months - < 13 years: 90 mg/m2 twice daily or
240 mg/m2 once daily
= 13 years or > 60 kg = adult dosage
It should be taken on empty stomach; at least ½ hour before or two hours after meal.
Half-life in plasma
1.5 ± 0.4 hours
Interactions with other drugs
� Rare
� Contraindicated drugs (DDI not to be taken with these drugs): Allopurinol.
� Didanosine levels are decreased by Methadone (§DDI).
� Didanosine levels are increased by oral Ganciclovir (§DDI); Tenofovir.
� Didanosine * decreases absorption of Delavirdine; Indinavir (at least one
hour before or two hours after Didanosine on an empty stomach);
Ritonavir (at least two hours before or after Didanosine); fluoroquinolones.
* Didanosine in the form of tablets or paediatric powder
Page 21