Question
I have missed a dose, what should i do now?
29 August 2014. Related: Adherence, All topics.
Answer
Hi,
If you have missed a dose you should take it as soon as you remember. If you have only realised when you’re taking your next dose do not take a double dose. Almost everyone will be late or miss a dose occasionally. However this becomes a concern if it is happening regularly.
If you are regularly missing doses you are at risk of developing resistance. This means that you meds will stop working effectively. This is why adherence is important. Adherence means taking your meds every day and as close to the same time as possible.
If you are you can talk to your clinic about why you are missing doses. If it is because of side effects for example there might be different meds available.
There is more detail about what you should do if you miss a dose in this treatment training guide
And more information about adherence in our online guide to treatment.
Hi Costa,
How long did you miss meds for? What was your last viral load result?
Hello there! if I miss my med for while month due to no availability what will happened ,will it problem when I start again after month ? please help me here much worried
regards
Hi Mondi,
Please see this Q&A. It explains that even when starting treatment, there is a window of about an hour either side of your target time when it is still fine to take them.
What happens if i take my pill an hour before or after regular time?
Hi Esther,
ARVS should be taken at a time that works for you. As long as there are no issue with side effects, then yes change from 10pm until 8pm.
Good evening
If I want to change my time because I was drinking my ARVs at ten now want to reduce the time to eight is it possible?
Hi Ernest,
Missing a dose occasionally can happen to everyone. But as it says above, do not take a double dose. If you’re taking your meds every day you’ll be fine missing just one dose.
What ARVs are you taking? Do you have access to your viral load and CD4 count?
If I have left my arv pills at home when going away for a day can I take two the next day.
Hi Joseph,
If you have missed a dose you should take it as soon as you remember. Please see this question and answer here.
Many ARVs should be swallowed whole and not crushed or split. So unfortunately the level of drug might not be covered if you’ve done that.
However, almost everyone will be late or miss a dose occasionally. That’s not likely to be a problem.
If I missed my ARV at 9t in the morning I brake one into 2 part then I drink one part then at 9t i drink a full one. Like that the level of the day is covered