Question
I can’t afford ARVs, is it ok to skip a few days?
8 November 2016. Related: Access to treatment, CD4 and viral load.
Is it ok to jump a day when taking ARVs? l can not afford them so if you buy a monthly supply you can use them for two months instead?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
There have been several small scale studies that have looked at reduced dosing. One of which was the FOTO study. The FOTO study worked with people who already had an undetectable viral load and were taking Atripla (efavirenz, FTC and TDF). There was drug interruption at a weekend. Therefore, people took there meds for 5 days, then they missed doses at the weekend. After a year there had been no viral load rebound. Please see:
FOTO STUDY: Cohen C et al. The FOTO study: The 48 week extension to assess durability of the strategy of taking efavirenz, tenofovir and emtricitabine Five days On, Two days Off (FOTO) each week in virologically suppressed patients. IAS 2009, Cape Town. Abstract MOPEB063.
http://library.iasociety.org/AbstractView.aspx?confID=2009&abstractId=3046
Another pilot study that included 61 people, and used a randomised control group, has also shown that by taking Atripla three days a week there was no viral load rebound. This was over a two year period. Please see the following link for more information:
https://i-base.info/htb/30601
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