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 Bonelwa.
What medication have you been given? If it contains efavirenz then yes you should be taking them in the evening before you go to bed. There’s more about this here:
http://i-base.info/guides/734
Hi I started to take my arv treatment yesterday I take it at 11am I feel dizzy the hole day now can I change my time and take it at night time?
Hi JM,
Its perfectly safe to take your meds even a few hours either side of your normal time. It won’t affect your HIV.
Hi! I’m JM from the Philippines, 16yrs of age. I must be taking hiv meds every 10pm but this night 04/15/18 I forgot to supervise time, and took it 10:06pm. 6mins late, is it still okay? I’m so worried. It’s my 6th night of taking meds anyway.
Hi Evo,
Yes its possible to change the time of day that you take your meds. You need to take them at a time that works for you and your lifestyle. If you do feel dizzy, which ideally you shouldn’t do, then maybe you could see about changing meds.
Hi! Im Evo from the Philippines. I am taking my ARV around 8:00 in the evening for 1 year already.
And since I am planning to change my time at work which is 3pm-12am would that be possible if I will reschedule my ARV time by 12am after going out from work atleast I am not at work when I take my medicines so that I wont get dizzy.
Hi Louie,
You can go back to your normal time, it won’t cause you any problems, and neither will you have overdosed. Could you keep the meds in different places, or even just take them both at the same time?
Hi There! Im Louie from Phils. My schedule of taking ARV (Efavirenz/Lamivudine/Tenofovir) is 9pm everyday, Dated 3/23/2018 Friday around 1:30pm accidentally i take my Arv instead of contrimoxazole,i try to research online what to do, to avoid over doses i didnt take arv at 9pm. That following day i take my Arv at around 1:30pm to ensure drug level stay 24hrs in my body. Is this fine? Hope you can give me feedback because im so worried. Hope you can help me. Thank You
Hi Kate,
Which countries are you going to be visiting?
Hello I am traveling for a month but carried my arv drugs for 6 months will it be a problem for me at border security