Question

A client is prescribed didanosine (Videx) as part of his highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Which instruction would the nurse emphasize with this client?

a) "You should take the drug with an antacid."
b) "It doesn't matter if you take this drug with or without food."
c) "Be sure to take this drug about 1/2 hour before or 2 hours after you eat."
d) "When you take this drug, eat a high-fat meal immediately afterwards."

Answer 1

The correct way to take didanosine (Videx) as part of HAART is to take it around 30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating to ensure proper absorption and effectiveness of the medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked about instructions for taking didanosine (Videx), which is prescribed as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV treatment. The correct instruction to emphasize to a client taking didanosine is: "Be sure to take this drug about 1/2 hour before or 2 hours after you eat." Since didanosine should be taken on an empty stomach to enhance its absorption, it's important to maintain this timing relative to meals. This is to avoid interactions with food that could reduce the effectiveness of the medication.