Q and A

Question

What if I miss a dose or take a double dose by mistake?

Hi, if i forget to take my pill on time, or maybe take it twice a day, without remembering i took it, then maybe overdose by mistake. Can it cause any harm to my health?

Answer

Missing an occasional pill is okay

Taking a double dose of HIV medication is usually okay  – but it is not a good idea. The main risk is that you might get side effects for a few hours due to the short time when you have higher drug levels.

Additional doses of other types of medication might require speaking to a doctor or pharmacist about the short term side effects.

It is better to get a pill box. Then you can see each day whether or not you have taken your meds. These are cheap and work really well.

Josh.

Answer revised 16/02/22

120 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Kathy, i-base is an HIV treatment organisation and are unable to comment to treatments for other conditions. Are you based in the UK? If you are, calling 111 for advice would be suitable to ask for further information.

  2. Kathy

    I took 20mg lisinopril this morning and took again at 5 pm by mistake but blood pressure was 136/100? Any risk?

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Barbara, are you using any HIV medication? i-base is an HIV treatment based company. Questions outside of this we are unable to provide advice.

  4. Barbara

    If I take my meds again I didn’t remember if I took them it’s eliquis 5mg, mirtazaspine, 15 mg simvastan 80mg an ferrous sulfate 325mg 5gr tabs.will it be ok

  5. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Brad, yes you should. HIV medication can take a few hours to be absorbed into the body. Vomiting after 20 minutes would mean your body will have very little to none of this dose absorbed.

  6. Brad

    Hiv positive here. Just threw up after taking biktarvy-
    Been on it since July, been with undetectable levels since August.
    Should i take the meds again since I vomited 20 minutes or so after taking it?

  7. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Jagdish, I do not recognise Telista as an HIV medication. Talking to a pharmacist or doctor will be able to help advise you.

  8. Jagdish

    If I take double dose of telista mt 25 by mistake what is the solution?

  9. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Tarry, is there a reason you didn’t take your regular dose? Taking a lower dose may reduce the side effects but it will also reduce how well the pill works. If you are struggling with the side effects of your pills, speak with a doctor and there may be a more suitable pill.

  10. Tarry

    If I take 2 blood pressure pill instead of 1 a day.
    Will I get some type of side effect. Wasn’t sure that I had taken 1 today

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