APPROVED DOSGE FOR PEOPLE OVER 60kg (9.5 stone):
Either 4 large white, orange-flavoured,100mg tablets once a day or 2 tablets twice a day.
APPROVED DOGE FOR PEOPLE UNDER 60kg:
Either 3 large white, orange-flavoured 100mg tablets once a day or 125mg twice daily comprising one large 100mg tablet, and one 25mg tablet.
NOTE ON DOSAGE:
People who have kidney or liver abnormalities may be advised by their doctor to take a lower dose.
EXPERIMENTAL DOSAGE:
200mg tablets, and a powdered form of ddl for making an oral solution, are available through a special access scheme to people unable to tolerate the 100mg tablets.
CHILDREN:
Approved for use in children. Liquid formulation available.
TIPS ON TAKING:
Take on an empty stomach to maximise the amount of ddl that gets into your blood. Take ddl at least 2 hours after eating (or 4 hours after a very big meal), and wait another half an hour before eating again. During this fasting period avoid: fruit juices (except clear apple
juice), fizzy drinks, milk. Smoking may also reduce the absorption of ddl. DDI should not be taken at the same time of day as some other medications. For example, ddl and protease inhibitors must be taken at least one hour apart. Crush and dissolve ddl in ice-cold water or clear apple juice. If you take a dose first thing in the morning, dissolve your dose the night before and leave in the fridge. Pill-crushers are available from pharmacies.
COMMON SIDE-EFFECTS:
Diarrhoea, peripheral neuropathy, nausea.
RARE SIDE-EFFECTS:
Pancreatitis, greater risk if high alcohol consumption. Liver problems.
RESISTANCE TO ddi:
Low risk of resistance to ddi,3tc and abacavir. Rerely causes resistance to d4t and azt
KEY DRUG INTERACTIONS:
ddl should be taken two hours apart from some drugs (e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole, indinavir). Levels of some drugs such as ciprofloxacin, ganciclovir and delavirdine may be affected. Do not take with ddC, intravenous pentamidine or tetracycline antibiotics. Drugs such as H2 blockers, omeprazole, rifampicin, and rifabutin may increase the risk of pancreatitis. When taken with hydroxyurea, the amount of active ddl in cells increases. Hydroxyurea may improve the effectiveness of ddl.
Disclaimer:
The site editor has taken all such care as considered reasonable in preparing the information published , but cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or mis-statements of fact contained herein.
