Which NRTI should be taken on an empty stomach?

Didanosine is the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that should be taken on an empty stomach. This is important because food can significantly affect its absorption, diminishing its effectiveness. When taken with food, particularly high-fat meals, the absorption of didanosine is decreased, which can lead to suboptimal therapeutic levels in the bloodstream. Therefore, to ensure effective treatment and achieve optimal drug concentrations, it is recommended that didanosine be taken at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating.

The other options do not have such stringent dietary restrictions, as they can generally be taken with or without food without significantly impacting their absorptive qualities or therapeutic efficacy. This distinction highlights the importance of patient education on medication adherence and the specific instructions associated with different antiretroviral therapies.