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 Sandile, switching the time of your treatment will not cause new side effects. If you had not lost any weight while taking them at 21:00, it is not going to cause weight loss when taking them at 12:00.
I switched time of taking my Art pills from 21:00 to 12:00 due to my new job. But I’ve lost some weight is it caused by me now taking them mid day?
Hi Munyaradzi, yes you can. Take your ARVs as normal at 0600 and it will be okay to on the same day take another dose at 2000. You can then continue with 2000 as your normal time from this point.
Can I change my time from 0600Hrs to 2000Hrs
Hi Kevin, after 5-6 days there is some risk of viral load rebound. This means there can be a small risk of resistance. Are you able to get a viral load test done in a few weeks? This is to check that your treatment is still suppressing HIV.
If I accidentally forgot to take at scheduled time for 5-6 days can develop risk of resistance. On other days I take them regularly at 2100
Hi Shaince, being 30 minutes late is not going to risk resistance. As long as the medication is taken within an hour of when it should be there won’t be a problem e.g., if you take you medication at 17:00 it would be okay to take it between 16:30 and 17:30.
Is there a reason you are forgetting to take your medication on time? You could set an alarm to help prompt you to remember to take it.
Hi
I regulary forget time then im usually 30 minutes late or 5 or so but i take it.Am i risking resistance
Hi Prince, yes it is okay to switch the time of PEP. You can continue taking your PEP at 6h00
Hello I’m taking PEP at 20h00 and I want to change to 6h00 am on Saturday I took at 20h00 then I forget to drink on Sunday night I took my medicine at 6h30am on Monday and Tuesday I took my medicine at 6h00
It’s is ok to continue in the morning because I forget at night due to tiredness??