Question
Is it ok if I take my meds 15 or 30 mins late?
10 October 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics.
Do you have to take your arvs at exactly the same time each day? Will for example 30 mins (or even an hour) each way have any impact whatsoever on the suppression of the virus or cause resistance? I am worried as even though I take them every day some days it is 15 or 30 mins later or earlier than the previous day.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
It is sometimes difficult to take your meds at the exact same time everyday.
Even when starting, there is a window of about an hour either side of your target time when it is still fine to take them.
For example, if you want to take your meds every night at 10 pm, then any time between 9pm and 11pm will be fine.
Everyone has a few times when we forget our meds though.
The less this happens the better. But if it does happen once in a while then there is nothing to worry about. If you forget in the future, take them as soon as you remember. However, if this is already close to the next dose DO NOT take a double dose.
Once you get an undetectable viral load, especially if it has been undetectable for several years, you have more flexibility. This partly depends on which drugs you are using.
Some once daily drugs (including tenofovir DF, emtricitabine and efavirinz) have long half-lives. This means drug levels stay in your body for long enough to cover being several hours late or even missing a dose completely.
Several studies are looking at whether reduced dosing might be safe – for example by only taking ART for four days a week. We need bigger studies before we know if this is safe though.
Note: this question was updated in October 2016 from and original answer in April 2011.
Hi Lidia,
Its OK to miss tonight and then take it as normal tomorrow.
Am 6month pregnant I told my ARV pill last night at 7:00 then by mistake i took it again now in morning 11:00 so should I take my pill tonight or what am stressed
Hi Debs,
The symptoms that you’re having could be due to a number of things. Therefore, this is something that you should talk to a doctor about.
Hi, please I have been on ART for close to 9 months now. Just recently I have been experiencing some tummy ache immediately I finish eating and then feel like visiting the washroom. I haven’t taken septrin for a long time too. Please what could be wrong?
Hi Jack,
Once your viral load becomes undetectable you won’t be able to transmit HIV to your girlfriend.For more info, please see here:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Yes you can change the time of day that you take your meds. However, you must take them as prescribed. So in your case, with food.
I have been taking ARV’s from close to 2 months now. I was diagnosed + back than.
I take my meds 10 pm everyday, I am thinking to change it to morning 9 am, but I am empty stomach most of the time in morning.
My second question is, once I am undetectable how normal it will be ?
I have told my gf I will be normal.
Hi Hlehle,
It doesn’t matter if your man is positive or not, their status wouldn’t affect your baby.
You being on ARVs will reduce the risk to transmission. For more info please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi I am 7 months pregnant and am HIV+ my man haven’t tested since so he’s not on arvs. Am on ARV,s and he is not. Will having unprotected sex with him affect my baby?
Hi Zack,
You could take them like this. However you could also take as normal, so at 10am and 10pm local time. Keeping it like this won’t affect how the meds work.
Hi! I just want to ask about travelling outside the time zone. For example, i take my meds at 10am and 10pm every day. I will travel to Auckland next month. The time in Auckland is 4 hours early than Malaysia. So if 10pm in here, it will be 2am the next day in Auckland. So am i going to take my meds at 2am in the morning? It will be grateful if you can ASAP. Thank you