Antiviral agent didanosine

The sites at which anti-HIV drugs may. in principle, act, are dealt with in detail under a main heading (see ANTIVIRAL agents). In summary, currently, of the drugs actually in use, a number are reverse transcriptase (enzyme) inhibitors (RTIs). Examples of nucleoside RTIs include zidovudine, didanosine and zalcitabine. Some non-nucleoside RTIs include foscarnet sodium, nevirapine, carbovir and TIBO analogues (some of these are at trial stage only). 

Zalcitabine toxicides are similar to those of the other dideoxynucleotide analogs didanosine and stavudine. Severe peripheral neuropathy has been reported in up to 15% of patients. Pancreatitis occurs rarely with zalcitabine therapy, but coadministration of other drugs that cause pancreatitis should be avoided. One distinctive toxicity of zalcitabine is oral ulceration and stomatitis. An erythematous rash also is common but generally self-limited. The necessity of frequent administration, the risk of toxicides, and the inferior antiviral activity compared to more convenient agents limits the use of zalcitabine in the U.S. 

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