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 Vuyiswa, if your appetite loss is serious and is worrying you, please ask your doctor about this. This is so they can take a detailed history and look for possible reasons.
Haai what can i use for the loss of appetite?
Hi Thando, yes it is okay to take them at 18:30. As long as you are not having any problems/side effects at this time, you can continue taking your treatment at 18:30.
It is most important that you take your treatment at a time that best suits you. This way you can ensure you will remain taking your treatment at the same time every day and if 18:30 is the best time for you, you should continue with this.
It is still okay if I take them at 18:30
Hi Lihle, Reydin and Volutrip are the same medication. You do not need to be taking them together.
They are both generic versions of TLD. They have different names as they have been made by a different manufacturer. They both contain the same drugs and work the same way. Taking them together will mean you are having a double dose of the same medication.
TLD is safe to be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
More information about TLD can be found here: https://i-base.info/guides/14970
Good day. I am pregnant & would like to know if I can take Reydin & Volutrip together at the same time
Hi Tom, yes you can switch the time of your treatment. You can take your medication as normal at 09:00 and then the following day continue at 11:00.
There will be no problem being 2 hours delayed with medication once.
Can I switch my time 9:00 to to 11:00am?
Hi Luke, not this will not affect your viral load. It is okay to take your treatment within an hour of the normal time. In this case it would be between 08:30 and 09:30. Being within this hour is not going to be a problem.
Occasionally being later as you have mentioned by an hour is not going to cause a problem as long as it is not a regular occurrence. Most HIV ART has a long enough half life that it is still active in the body for longer than 24 hours. This means it can account for being an hour late and it will still work.
How often are you being late? If 09:00 is not suitable have you considered moving it forward by half an hour to help prevent days where you might be late?
Hi I need to ask this I take my art at 09h00 which was the time I setup for myself however I struggle sometimes to keep up with the time due to my work and lifestyle. I find myself taking them 15 to 30 minutes late one time I think it was an hour later, so need to know if it can affect my viral load etc.