Sodium + Didanosine
Didanosine brand names: Videx, Videx EC.
Didanosine falls into 2 drug categories that Sodium can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Concomitant use of didanosine with additional sodium from dietary or supplemental sources may increase the risk of hypernatremia.
Read the full interaction reportSodium and Didanosine
These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 2 Interactions?
Sodium interacts with whole categories of medication. Didanosine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Sodium in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).
DIDANOSINE (Videx)
1 of 2Didanosine formulations contain a significant amount of sodium.
Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..
Here's the thing many folks don't realize about didanosine (Videx): the medication itself, especially the buffered and powder forms, already carries a fair amount of sodium built right into it. So when you add extra sodium on top, whether from salty foods or a sodium supplement, you're stacking sodium on sodium. Over time that can push your blood sodium too high, a condition called hypernatremia, which may show up as excess thirst, swelling, headache, confusion, or extra strain on your heart and kidneys.
This is a recognized, agreed-upon concern, not just a lab theory. Everyday salt in cooking is usually fine for most people, but deliberately taking sodium tablets is where I'd pump the brakes. Please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before adding any sodium, particularly if you have blood pressure, heart, or kidney issues.
- Willocks L, Brettle R, Keen J, Valentine C, Pinching AJ. Formulations of didanosine (ddI) and salt overload. Lancet 1992;339(8786):190.
SODIUM-CONTAINING DRUGS
2 of 2Why this applies to Didanosine
Didanosine falls under SODIUM-CONTAINING DRUGS — the group Sodium interacts with.
The Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) intake level of 2.3 grams of sodium daily indicates the intake at which it is believed that chronic disease risk increases for the apparently healthy population. Some medications contain high quantities of sodium. When used in conjunction with sodium supplements or high-sodium diets, the CDRR may be exceeded. Additionally, concomitant use may increase the risk for hypernatremia; this risk is highest in the elderly and people with other risk factors for electrolyte disturbances.
Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
Here's the deal with this one: the buffered forms of didanosine contain a good amount of sodium, which is added to protect the drug from stomach acid. By itself that's usually fine, but if you stack extra sodium on top of it (sodium supplements or a very salty diet), all that sodium adds up. The concern isn't about how well your HIV medicine works. It's that your total daily sodium could climb higher than is healthy.
Over time, too much sodium can nudge up blood pressure and add fluid, which matters more if you're older or have heart or kidney issues. This is a theoretical, pharmacology-based caution, not a documented disaster, so don't panic. Just don't deliberately add sodium without checking with your pharmacist or doctor first.
- Stallings VA, Harrison M, Oria M; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium, Food and Nutrition Board, Health and Medicine Division, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington (DC): National Acad
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
- ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
- UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
- AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
- BCase-control study.
- CConsensus.
- DAnecdotal evidence.
These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
Sodium Also Interacts With Other Medications
Sodium has 204 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Didanosine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Sodium
We haven’t checked that one against Sodium yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Sodium. Pick one to open its full report.
Questions About Sodium or Didanosine
These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Sodium or Didanosine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Didanosine
This page covers Sodium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Didanosine page lists 20 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).
By severity: 1 major · 10 moderate · 9 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Didanosine page
“Almost everything on this page threatens didanosine (Videx) the same way, by keeping the drug from being absorbed. For an HIV medicine that is not a small problem, because a weaker dose lets the virus rebound and can breed resistance, so treat these pairings with real care.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Sodium as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 26,145 real supplement products containing Sodium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sodium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Didanosine too, on top of Sodium — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Sodium and Didanosine Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#6 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,386 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
About Sodium
What is Sodium?
- Replacing fluids and electrolytes
- Preventing dehydration during exercise or illness
- Treating low blood sodium (under medical care)
- Seasoning and food preservation
- Antacid (as sodium bicarbonate)
Sodium is an essential mineral and electrolyte your body needs to balance fluids, support nerves, and help muscles work. Most people in modern diets get more than enough—often too much—from food, so supplements are rarely needed except for specific medical reasons like dehydration or low blood sodium. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before deliberately adding sodium, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart, or kidney problems.
About Didanosine
What Is Didanosine Used For?
Brand names: Videx, Videx EC
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Didanosine is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Didanosine is in a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although didanosine does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting (spreading) the HIV virus to other people.
Other Drugs & Sodium
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Sodium — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
204 interactions
- Diltiazem ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Hydrochlorothiazide ›
- Verapamil ›
- Prednisone ›
- Dexamethasone ›
- Prednisolone ›
- Triamcinolone ›
- Budesonide ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Hydralazine ›
- Trichlormethiazide ›
- Bendroflumethiazide ›
- Betamethasone ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Metolazone ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Nicardipine ›
- Prazosin ›
- Sodium Phenylbutyrate ›
- Spironolactone ›
- Timolol ›
- Acebutolol ›
- Acetazolamide ›
- Ambrisentan ›
- Amiloride ›
- Atenolol ›
- Beclomethasone ›
- Beclomethasone Dipropionate ›
- Betaxolol ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Captopril ›
- Carteolol ›
- Carvedilol ›
- Chlorthalidone ›
- Clobetasol ›
- Cortisone Acetate ›
- Cyclothiazide ›
- Enalapril Maleate ›
- Felodipine ›
- Guanethidine Monosulfate ›
- Iloprost ›
- Indapamide ›
- Irbesartan ›
- Labetalol ›
- Lithium Carbonate (prescription Drug) ›
- Mannitol ›
- Methyclothiazide ›
- Methyldopa ›
- Methylprednisolone ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Nadolol ›
- Nebivolol ›
- Nimodipine ›
- Olmesartan Medoxomil ›
- Oxprenolol ›
- Pindolol ›
- Quinapril ›
Showing 60 of 204 moderate interactions — see all 204 on the Sodium page.
No interaction 2,625 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Sodium against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Naproxen ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Acetaminophen, Oxycodone ›
- Dapsone ›
- Diazepam ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,625 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sodium list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Taking Sodium and Didanosine Together: Common Questions
Can you take Sodium with Didanosine?
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Sodium and Didanosine?
How serious is the Sodium and Didanosine interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.