Question
Can i change the time i take my ARVs?
29 January 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I take my ARVs at 8am and 8pm. Can i change it to 10am and 10pm?
Answer
Hi,
This is not a problem as long as you consistently take them at the new time. Jumping back and forth mean you have a risk of developing resistance. This would mean your meds would stop working well.
People do change the time they take their meds for all sorts of reasons though. Again this is ok as long as you keep taking regularly at the new time.
The only concern about switching from evening to morning is if your combination include the drug efavirenz. Efavirenz needs to be taken 1-2 hours before you sleep, so you reduce side effects.
Hi Patricia,
ARVs should be taken at a time that works well for you, so yes you can change.
I want to change my time for taking the ARV pill is it Ok for me and my baby???
Hi Bpardon,
If your sisters been off meds for a month, her viral load will have rebounded. Therefore, she’s going to need to restart treatment. Ideally she should let her doctor know that she missed a month, if it’s possible they should check her viral load as well as CD4 count. She may be able to used the meds she used to use, however she may need to change to something else.
Hi im pardon my sister skip a mouth for her tretment so what will happen to her must continue to take her tretment oh what
Hi Dee,
Did you mean your viral load is lower than detectable? And is this because you’re taking HIV treatment (ART)?
If so, there’s good news. It means that someone with an undetectable HIV viral load on HIV treatment (ART) cannot transmit HIV, even without using condoms or PrEP.
Please see U=U for lots more info.
Can I ask im posetive and my partner is negative we want to stop using condoms and my viral load is lowere can we
Hi Thabi,
Yes you can just start at 6am the next day, this won’t be an issue.
I have been taking my pill at 8pm now I’m being changed to volutrip, the nurse says they are causing insomnia, how do I change from 8pm to 6am, can I just take it the following day in the morning and continue from there?
Hi Jaybee,
Yes it’s OK to change to 10pm, this won’t be an issue.
Hi Im taking my antiretoviral(efavirenz,lamivudine,tenofovir) every night at 11 pm, if I change the time and take it every 10 pm, would it be okay or not?