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 Suman, your result is conclusive. After 6 weeks from the last dose of PEP a 4th generation test will confirm your status. You do not have HIV.
I started pep in 21 hours after exposore i left it only having one after exactly six week i tested negative in fourth generation test will that one pep increase window period ? Do i need to test again?
Hi Courtany, has your pharmacy mentioned when you would be able to get more medication? If you are continuing to feel like this you should go to the hopsital. How many days have you been feeling like this?
Hi I’m on symtuza and my pharmacy wasn’t able to get my meds so I went with out dosing for almost 9 days and now I’m feeling sick a mild cough sore achy muscles and body and extremely tired sweaty should I be concerned and go tot eh hosputal?
Hi John, the level of Biktarvy in your body should remain high enough to make up for the missed doses. Is there a reason why you have recently been missing your medication? While an occasional dose can be missed, there are increased risks for complications if this becomes more common. Are you able to access a test for your viral load? It is very likely that you are still undetectable but as you have missed a number of doses over the last few months, it would be recommended to check your viral load to check for yours and your parterres safety.
I was missing my Biktarvy dose about once a week, then got on track for about 3 weeks and today I forgot to take my pill, I work far and cannot retrieve it before the next dose. I’ve been undetectable for over 10 years. I’m scared I messed up too much in the last 3 months, missing doses almost weekly. And although I’ve had a good run for almost a month I missed again. I don’t want to infect my partner. Am I ok?
Hi Hope,
Missing 2 doses very occasionally will most probably be fine. Most people will miss a dose at some point, but so long as this is not every week, this is also okay.
If this keeps happening, please talk to your doctor about things that might help. The more doses you miss though the more likely that you will develop drug resistance.
Please see this page about adherence for more information
Hi, I’m on ART and I missed my dose twice, my viral load is undetectable and I’m scared that it might go back to being detectable and my partner might be positive, he was negative but we had unprotected sex due to my viral load being undetectable which has less risk of transmission
I have been undetectable now for about 2 years. CD4 about 400. I take Descovy 1 a day and 400 distress 2x day. I missed my dose of isentress. First time I’ve actually missed a dose. How concerning us that. Also I have been over 6 hrs late once in the past year. I am very diligent with taking my meds. Which is why missing a dose is kinda freaking me out.
Hi Andrew,
Missing your meds once isn’t going to make any difference, neither is being late once. You’re fine.